Written Instructions for Making a Suit c. 1938

Henry De Wolfe created "Written Instructions for Making a Suit" using ink on paper. The symbols are geometric, and the pattern-making instructions use letters and numbers. The dart, a crucial motif in tailoring, appears here not just as a technical term, but as a potent symbol of precision. Consider the notched triangle, repeated throughout. This simple shape evokes the idea of connection and direction. In ancient Greek art, similar triangles were used to represent mountains, places of divine revelation. Here, it guides the tailor to join pieces, much like how those ancient symbols guided the viewer. The circle, though "half" here, represents wholeness, yet it is not fully present, mirroring our incomplete understanding. Such markings are not merely instructions but are inscribed with the desire for order, mirroring our own subconscious quest for control. This page resonates beyond its practical purpose; it engages us with the primal act of creation, as patterns resurface and evolve, carrying our cultural memories forward.