Dress c. 1937

Jean Peszel painted this watercolor and gouache “Dress” at an unknown date. It’s this delicate rendering of a rosy-pink dress with small floral patterns. I love thinking about the back-and-forth between the hand, the eye, and the idea. Look at the frilly sleeves and the ruffled hem. Imagine Peszel, brush in hand, carefully applying each layer of watercolor, building up the color and texture. Did she start with the overall shape, or did she focus on the details first? Were they thinking about who might wear the dress? The transparency of the watercolor gives the dress a dreamy, ethereal quality. It reminds me of other artists who use clothing as a metaphor for identity and transformation. I wonder how Peszel’s work might have influenced, or been influenced by, other painters. Artists are always in conversation. We are looking at each other’s stuff, being inspired, and pushing things forward.