Landkaarten-jurk Possibly 1945 - 1947

Editor: This is the Landkaarten-jurk, or Map Dress, thought to be from around 1945 to 1947, by J. Terwen-de Loos. It's created with mixed media including textiles and collage. The thing that strikes me is how unusual it is; using maps as the primary material for a dress is quite a bold choice! What formal elements stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The most immediately apparent element is, as you say, the material itself. Terwen-de Loos has appropriated geographical maps, typically functional objects, and recontextualized them within the realm of fashion. Notice how the lines of longitude and latitude, the cartographic symbols, and the color variations on the maps contribute to the overall texture and pattern of the dress. It moves beyond function into pure visual form. Editor: That's a great point about the visual form. It almost flattens the geography depicted. Are there any specific structural elements that you find particularly compelling? Curator: I am intrigued by the construction of the dress, the way the disparate map fragments are pieced together. This is collage in the truest sense. Where do the seams create unexpected juxtapositions of geographical locations, creating a visual rhythm across the garment’s surface? How does the choice of fabric and the cut of the dress inform its aesthetic impact? The silhouette follows the fashion trends of the time, which is juxtaposed with such subversive androgynous, even masculine, patterns and themes, no? Editor: I never would have noticed that subversion without you pointing it out! It also creates a sense of place, both unified and disjointed at once. Curator: Exactly. By exploring its formal elements—the collage technique, the textile choices, and the juxtaposition of mapping with fashion design—we begin to see how Landkaarten-jurk transcends its literal representation and becomes a fascinating visual statement, not only to fashion in the post-war period but to all artwork derived from cultural context. Editor: Thank you. Looking at this piece through a formalist lens reveals a far deeper layer of complexity. Curator: My pleasure, it gives so much more nuance to the material that's staring us in the face!