Ecclesiastical Vestment (front view) c. 1940

This is Syrena Swanson's rendering of an Ecclesiastical Vestment, made sometime in the 20th Century. The gouache on paper has a delicate, illustrative style, a softer take, maybe, on the original textile’s bold statement. I love how Swanson captured the plushness of the velvet, it’s almost edible, like a red velvet cake, don’t you think? The color palette, dominated by reds and browns, is so warm and inviting. Take a look at how the embroidered floral details are meticulously rendered, each stitch seemingly accounted for. There’s a real sense of care and attention to detail. It reminds me of the work of another chronicler of textile culture, Susan Te Kahurangi King. Both artists invite a kind of intimacy, slowing down our looking, and asking us to consider the stories embedded in each garment. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue across time and mediums.