Suspender c. 1930

Dolores Haupt created this watercolor and graphite depiction of a suspender, its date unknown. The suspender's linear form is immediately striking, defined by its verticality and symmetry. Haupt meticulously renders the suspender with a flat, frontal perspective that invites close inspection of its materiality. The composition is divided into distinct zones, with the floral embroidered straps creating a visual rhythm. The choice of pastel hues and delicate brushstrokes suggests an interest in exploring themes of domesticity and the decorative arts, often overlooked in the hierarchy of artistic subjects. The suspender becomes a signifier, laden with cultural meaning related to gender, labour, and the body. Through the formal representation, Haupt elevates the status of this mundane object, challenging the conventional boundaries of fine art and craft, and questioning fixed notions of value.