Dolman c. 1936

Marie Mitchell, born in 1855, rendered this watercolor entitled “Dolman,” sometime within her lifetime, portraying a garment emblematic of late 19th-century fashion. The dolman, a cape-like outer garment, speaks volumes about the era's gendered expectations and social hierarchies. Consider the constraints placed upon women of the time, whose identities were often expressed, and restricted, through dress. A garment like the dolman, while offering a degree of freedom in movement, simultaneously cloaked the female form, adhering to prevailing notions of modesty and decorum. Mitchell’s choice to depict it, with its intricate detailing, suggests an interest in the material culture of her time and its impact on women's lives. Moreover, the dolman’s likely association with the upper classes highlights issues of social stratification and access to luxury. Mitchell, through her artistic lens, invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity, as shaped by gender, class, and cultural norms. The piece acts as a subtle commentary on the visible and invisible forces that shape individual expression within a specific historical context.