Material used in Costume c. 1938

Isabelle De Strange created this design for costume material on paper. The ground is a moody sea of dark greens, with floating leaf-like shapes in brighter greens, pinks, and browns, all tied together by a lacy white line. I can imagine her working on this, shifting and refining the pattern, letting it emerge through intuition. I wonder if Isabelle had a costume in mind when she made this? Maybe she imagined a play or a festival, the materials all shimmering under the lights. There's something so satisfying about the surface. The leaf-like shapes have an almost iridescent quality against the dark ground, and the lacy lines act as both a frame and a connector. Isabelle De Strange was part of a long conversation among artists, designers, and craftspeople all inspiring each other’s creativity. As with all art, there is uncertainty and ambiguity, leaving space for multiple readings.