Dress 1935 - 1942

Editor: We're looking at "Dress" from between 1935 and 1942 by J. Herman McCollum, it's a drawing – maybe with some textiles incorporated? The dress itself has this lovely, romantic, almost prairie-like feel. What catches your eye about it? Curator: Oh, it's positively dripping with nostalgia, isn't it? The floral pattern...it's as if a grandmother's garden has bloomed onto the fabric. But look closer – McCollum includes that simplified line drawing right beside the vividly rendered dress, like memory juxtaposed against lived reality. What do you make of that choice? Editor: I hadn't really thought of it that way, but it does add another layer, doesn't it? The detailed dress feels present, alive almost, while the sketch is… just an idea. Curator: Exactly! It's the designer wrestling with concept and execution, potential and realization, like an echo of the design process itself. And consider the materials – textile combined with drawing. It’s not just about representing clothing, it's about engaging with the materiality of it, wouldn't you say? It's almost…tactile. It feels like a blueprint for a memory. Does it evoke anything specific for you? Editor: I think the contrast makes me appreciate the finished dress more, and consider what went into designing it. The rough sketch isn't very captivating, while the main design feels so detailed and well finished. Curator: Wonderful observation! Maybe McCollum is teaching us about potential... but also showing the beauty of completion. What an evocative little fragment from the past. Editor: Definitely given me a new appreciation for the layers involved in design.