Child's Jacket 1935 - 1942

Julie C. Brush, who lived from 1855 to 1995, made this image of a child's jacket using watercolor and graphite on paper. Here, Brush meticulously renders the soft folds of the fabric. Consider the plaid pattern. It speaks to a time when textiles were increasingly industrialized. Patterns like this were a triumph of mechanized looms, capable of producing complex designs at scale. Yet, the soft texture that Brush captures reminds us that clothing is always worn close to the body, a personal experience within the wider context of production. Notice the subtle shading and details, giving the garment a tangible presence. By depicting this everyday object with such care, Brush elevates the ordinary. It prompts us to consider the labor involved in both the making of the jacket and the making of its image. It also challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.