Costume design for bride 

Natalia Goncharova created this costume design for a bride using watercolor, gouache, and graphite. The traditional techniques of painting and drawing are here applied to the ephemeral world of costume. The design presents a vibrant and stylized version of folk dress. Note the puffed sleeves, floral skirt, and bright beaded jewelry, all rendered with a quick, sure hand. Goncharova has not only designed this costume, but imbued it with a sense of the wearer through the immediacy of her mark-making. What is fascinating here is the application of “high art” processes to the applied art of costume design. It reminds us that the skill of the artist is not only applicable to the fine arts, but also to fashion, theatre, and other forms of visual expression. By understanding the hand skills involved, we can better appreciate the cultural value and rich significance of this beautiful design.