Vrouw in blauwe jurk, 1913-1914 c. 1912 - 1913

This watercolor, ink, and pencil drawing of a woman in a blue dress was created by Jan van Brock sometime between 1913 and 1914. I love the geometric designs and colors that adorn the dress—the artist is so careful with the details. I can imagine him hunched over this work, painstakingly applying each small daub of color. And that plume! It must have taken real concentration and a steady hand to render the shapes so delicately. It makes me think about other artists preoccupied with fashion. Someone like Sonia Delaunay, maybe, who designed textiles and clothing as well as paintings. I wonder if van Brock knew her work, or if they were part of the same artistic circles? Painting is often an exchange of ideas, where we’re building on what's come before, responding to each other across time. It’s like one big, messy, beautiful conversation.