Dress c. 1938

Julia Boyd made this drawing of a dress, we don't know exactly when, and it's made with graphite on paper. It’s a delicate and precise work. You can almost feel the texture of the paper beneath the graphite. Look closely at the scalloped edges along the hem and neckline. See how the artist varies the pressure of the pencil, creating a rhythm of light and dark? It’s almost like a musical notation, a visual score of repeated gestures. I really believe that artmaking is a process like any other form of communication. This drawing reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s work, with its quiet repetition and subtle variations. But where Martin’s grids evoke a sense of meditative calm, Boyd’s dress seems to hint at something more personal, more intimate. A garment worn, a life lived. Ultimately, it's a beautiful piece that invites us to slow down, to look closely, and to find meaning in the everyday.