Waistcoat 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have a colored pencil drawing of a Waistcoat, created sometime between 1935 and 1942. I’m struck by how flat the image feels, even though it depicts a three-dimensional object. It almost looks like a pattern more than clothing. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I observe a rigorous adherence to geometric form. The artist’s meticulous rendering of the plaid pattern establishes a complex network of horizontal and vertical lines, thus flattening depth. Note the colour choice: a carefully considered palette of browns, blues, and white reinforces the structural clarity of the plaid design, emphasizing its planar qualities. Do you notice any other flattening techniques? Editor: You're right about the colors! The values are really similar, so nothing pops out or recedes. And now that you mention the geometric shapes, I’m looking at how the shape of the waistcoat itself is almost like a rectangle with some curved edges. Is there a relationship between the flat style and the drawing being about clothing? Curator: Potentially. One can examine how the planar composition influences our reading of the object, perhaps causing the observer to view this garment less as a piece of apparel and more as a study in shape and texture. Do you think it removes it from being something functional and makes it just about the colors, lines, shapes? Editor: I think it does. It's like the drawing focuses on the abstract qualities of the waistcoat. It's been very enlightening to consider the composition separately from its function! Curator: Indeed, by reducing the garment to its fundamental components of colour and design, the artist presents an intriguing visual experience for contemplation.