Embroidered Bolero Jacket c. 1940

Hal Blakeley made this 'Embroidered Bolero Jacket' with pencil and watercolor, but it's not dated, leaving us to wonder about its exact moment. The jacket, rendered in delicate hues, is all about the process of embellishment. Look at the ruffles, almost like little clouds clinging to the garment. It's as if Blakeley is thinking through making as he’s drawing, each stroke a decision, a ripple in the fabric of representation. The surface is smooth, but the details suggest a texture that’s almost touchable. The pale grays and whites give the jacket an ethereal quality, while the precision of the lines speaks to a deep understanding of form and detail. Notice how the shading around the sleeves and collar gives it a sense of depth. This piece reminds me a little of Charles Demuth and his watercolors. Both share a love for precision. But here, there's an added layer of whimsy, a sense of playfulness. Art, after all, is a conversation. We can never know what Blakeley intended, and that’s the beauty of it.