Man's Vest 1935 - 1942

This man's vest was delicately rendered in watercolor by Lillian Causey. It's like she’s mapped out an idea more than depicted a real, wearable thing. I love how each little mark feels so intentional. The vest is softly colored, almost ghostly, but the details are precise. You can see the careful lines defining the edges and the tiny, repetitive motifs scattered across the surface. The decoration is really quite elaborate. Look at the scalloped edges and the detailed embroidery on the flaps. It’s meticulous, almost obsessive! I think it must have been such a meditative process to create this, a real labor of love. It reminds me a bit of some of the costume designs by the Ballet Russes artists, particularly Natalia Goncharova, although Causey has a far gentler touch. It’s as if she is whispering to us, rather than shouting. It’s a reminder that art is often about exploration, about imagining possibilities, rather than creating something definitive.