Dress c. 1937

This drawing of a dress was made by Arelia Arbo, and its graphite on paper. Now, at first glance, this appears to be a pretty straightforward fashion plate. But notice how much attention Arbo pays to the surface of the dress, and how it is put together, even though she’s using such humble materials as paper and pencil. The dress appears to be constructed from patterned panels, each meticulously rendered. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric. What’s interesting here is the relationship between the drawing and the thing itself. The dress is a product of industrial labor, of course, and probably intended for a middle-class consumer. Arbo heightens our sensitivity to the labor involved in the dress's construction by making it the explicit subject of her own labor. She elevates the status of garment-making itself, through the act of drawing. So, this seemingly simple sketch urges us to reflect on how clothing intertwines with craftsmanship, commerce, and the artistic eye.