Artwork
Sandal Shoe
Sandal Shoe is a watercolor work on paper by the Contemporary Abstract artist Barbara Nessim. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Each design is annotated with material specifications and color codes in fine script, transforming the drawings into production-ready guides.
Five watercolor sketches by Barbara Nessim, created for Carber Shoes, document proposed sandal designs with technical precision. Each design is annotated with material specifications and color codes in fine script, transforming the drawings into production-ready guides. The works blend artistic expression with industrial function, reflecting a collaborative design process between artist and manufacturer.
Subject & Meaning
The sketches present three distinct sandal forms, each rendered with clarity to communicate structural elements like straps, soles, and hardware. Labels such as 'opaco blue' and 'argento' indicate specific material choices, suggesting a focus on tactile and visual consistency in mass production. These are not mere illustrations but functional blueprints, intended to translate aesthetic vision into wearable objects.
Technique & Style
Watercolor was used to suggest texture and hue with subtle gradations, while precise pen lines define form and component placement. The artist numbered each part systematically, mirroring engineering diagrams. The palette—blues, browns, silvers—was chosen for its commercial viability and visual harmony, balancing artistic intent with manufacturing constraints.
History & Provenance
Created in the 1970s, these sketches were part of a design development phase for Carber Shoes, a brand known for its modernist footwear. They remained in the artist’s archive before being acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they now serve as examples of mid-century fashion design documentation.
Context
During this period, fashion illustrators increasingly worked directly with manufacturers, bridging creative and industrial realms. Nessim’s work reflects a broader trend in which designers documented their ideas with both visual and technical detail, anticipating the rise of collaborative design systems in the fashion industry.
Legacy
These sketches exemplify the quiet intersection of art and industry in 20th-century design. Their preservation highlights the value of ephemeral design documents, offering insight into how aesthetic decisions were translated into tangible products through meticulous annotation and planning.
Artist & collection
Artist
Barbara Nessim (born 1939) is an American artist, illustrator, and educator whose work has played a significant role in expanding the boundaries between illustration, fine art, and digital media.
