Baby Cap 1935 - 1942

Rosalia Lane created "Baby Cap" using what looks like ink on paper. The outlines are so delicate and precise, it seems she approached this work with the same care one might give to sewing the baby garments that she draws. The patterns on the pillow and the embroidered trims on the clothes appear very deliberately placed. They aren’t just decorative, they create these rhythmic, flowing lines that bring a sense of movement to what could otherwise be static forms. Look at the lines on the dress to the lower right of the composition. They show the way the fabric bunches and drapes, suggesting the hidden shape of the body in such a simple way. There’s a real sense of intimacy in this work; it's like looking into a private world, one that is both precise and full of softness. It reminds me a little of the drawings of dress designs by Florine Stettheimer, where fashion becomes a form of personal expression. Lane's work, like Stettheimer's, is about capturing the beauty of the everyday. It tells a story that is both delicate and strong.