Dress c. 1938

This 'Dress' by Jean Peszel, made in watercolour, unfolds like a faded dream. The dress emerges with delicate washes of a muted green, almost ghostly in its appearance. Peszel's brushwork feels tentative, building up layers of translucent colour to create the form. The paper peeks through, adding to the airy quality and reminding me of the raw, material process that underpins all representation. See the subtle rendering of the bows. Each one is slightly different, with varying depths of shadow. This kind of variation prevents the image from becoming too rigid, and suggests an underlying sense of play. Peszel’s delicate touch reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, both artists approach mark making with a sense of quiet contemplation. These artists suggest that beauty can be found in the most unassuming of places. Art can be a place of ongoing dialogue between artists, each one responding to and building upon the ideas of those who came before.