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Why Charles James saw himself as a sculptor of fabric

"The construction defies any usual dress-making norms."

"The construction defies any usual dress-making norms."

Curator Jan Glier Reeder on an evening dress by Charles James.

Explore this object:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/159364

Throughout 2013, The Met invited curators from across the Museum to each talk about one artwork that changed the way they see the world. Each episode is interpreted by a Museum photographer.

Photography by Karin L. Willis

Selected tracks provided by APM Music
Photograph by Jerry Cooke, © JCA, Inc. 2013

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Contributors

Jan Glier Reeder
Former Consulting Curator

Close-up of a Queen of Clubs playing card with a cut-out section. Behind it, a faded, ghostly face is visible, creating a surreal, mysterious mood.
The artist’s work challenges the social and political context of mass incarceration.
Lisa Sutcliffe
April 28
A sheet of paper with a figure and cutout outfits for dressing up paper dolls.
Historic paper dolls from the Drawings and Prints collection tell a story of conspicuous consumption and evolving social values.
Liliya Dashevski
March 12
More in:Art ExplainedFashion

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Evening dress, Charles James  American, silk/rayon, silk, American
Charles James
1946