Dress (Pattern) c. 1936

Dorothy Gernon created this drawing of a dress pattern with what looks like pencil on paper, and when I look at it, I think about the way she uses lines to define shapes. It's like she's thinking through the form of the dress, piece by piece. The texture of the paper and the softness of the pencil create a gentle, almost ephemeral quality. The drawing isn't about perfection; it’s more about the process of figuring things out. There’s a raw honesty in the way the lines are laid down, revealing the artist’s hand and her thought process. Look at the way she labels each section, as if she’s having a conversation with herself about the construction of the garment. It reminds me of the work of Ree Morton, who also combined drawing, text, and a kind of homespun aesthetic. Ultimately, this drawing is less about the dress itself and more about the act of creation. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be polished and refined, but can be a messy, beautiful exploration of ideas.