Fashion (Mode) 1912

Otto Lendecke made this small print called Fashion, we think around the 1910s, and it's a real invitation into a world of color and playful shapes. I can tell it's probably a woodcut or linocut, something where the artist had to carve away at the material to make the image, a real process. The palette is so interesting – this muted coral color combined with pale shades of green, yellow and blue. I like the way the artist uses a kind of shorthand to describe the dress, hair and frills. It's not about capturing every detail, but about giving you the essence of this woman and her style. Look at the way the artist renders the fabric, how he suggests its texture and drape without getting too literal. It’s all about suggestion, and that’s what makes it so appealing. You can see echoes of Art Deco, but also something more personal and quirky, a kind of knowing wink. It reminds me a little bit of Sonia Delaunay's experiments with color and form. What a great piece!