Visiting Dress 1935 - 1942

Nancy Crimi's "Visiting Dress" is a watercolor that captures more than just fabric; it's like she's painting a whole world of propriety and femininity. The colors are so restrained, mostly whites and grays, with a pop of red that feels both daring and demure. It's all about the details here, the way she renders the lace and the folds of the fabric. You can almost feel the weight of the material, the way it would rustle as you walked. Look at the way she uses the watercolor; it's so delicate, almost transparent in places, but then she builds up the layers to create depth and shadow. It's a real push and pull between showing and concealing, which, let's be honest, is what getting dressed is often about. Crimi reminds me of someone like Florine Stettheimer, who also found ways to bring an intensely personal vision to her depictions of women and culture. It's less about what you see and more about how it makes you feel.