Written Instructions for Making Suit c. 1938

Curator: I’m drawn to the quiet energy of this work by Henry De Wolfe, dating to about 1938. It's entitled "Written Instructions for Making Suit" and combines drawing and mixed media on paper and textile. Editor: It's like a hidden language. There’s a visual poetry here—all those instructions huddled together create such a compelling pattern. It evokes something secretive, almost sacred. Curator: Yes! It really speaks to how the written word becomes an image, loses its primary function, and begins a new life. There's something very powerful in taking instructions, something so functional, and turning it into something else entirely. It reminds me a bit of Concrete Poetry. Editor: Absolutely. There's the implied human presence, the hand that painstakingly wrote each word and symbol. What catches my eye are these recurring notations, like “A-1”, "B-2". I wonder about the significance of these specific letters and numbers? Do they act like secret codes or something deeper within the image? Curator: Precisely, those alphanumeric codes become a sort of symbolic language. De Wolfe offers a glimpse into a methodical process, each marking hinting at hidden knowledge about crafting techniques that were necessary during his time, don't you think? Perhaps this work transcends simply displaying tailoring know-how and taps into collective understanding. Editor: The textile fragments peeking through the drawing are an evocative touch. What kind of story could they be telling here, about memory or legacy? These fabric bits imply not just tailoring techniques but also evoke nostalgia and generational skills that get handed down. It is such a deep image for being seemingly straightforward at first glance! Curator: Yes, the raw simplicity alongside those deliberate technical annotations speaks of intention and meaning beyond a simple 'how-to.' To me, De Wolfe reveals how common crafting turns into deeply embedded stories told across time, don't you agree? Editor: I agree wholeheartedly. When observing those markings within “Written Instructions", it becomes more apparent that craftsmanship serves purposes beyond pure utility alone. And De Wolfe lets people into its secret! What better purpose than this!