Toujours Chic Les Deshabillés, Hiver 1921-1922: Brunette 1921 - 1922

This fashion plate, Brunette, was made around 1921-1922 by G-P. Joumard using a printing process. Look at the way the colours are laid down flat, like delicious layers of paint. It’s as if Joumard is thinking about the way he makes the image as much as he's thinking about the fashions. I love how the gold detailing on the kimono pops against the deep black of the satin. The way Joumard uses lines to define the form is also interesting. The vertical stripes on the pants and the delicate curves of the kimono create a sense of movement and fluidity. I’m drawn to the little, almost casual, gaps between the black lines and the other colours, letting the ground peek through. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about perfection, but about the beauty in the process. Thinking about influences, you could draw a line from this to someone like Erté. Both artists capture the elegance of their eras but are not afraid to be a little playful in their depiction of form and colour.