Toilette de soirée en soie liberty noire. 1919

This fashion plate, "Toilette de soirée en soie liberty noire," was created in 1919. It looks like a print of some kind. I love how the artist embraced flat color and strong outlines, totally prioritizing shape and design over realism. It’s like they’re saying, "Hey, this is artifice, and I'm not afraid to show it!" The whole thing is so graphic, and there are a couple of things that catch my eye. Look at the way the stripes on the skirt create this almost architectural rhythm. There's something very satisfying about the way they interact with the fringe at the bottom. And then there's the odd placement of the arm to the right, totally divorced from the rest of the figure. It reminds me a bit of Matisse's cut-outs, but with this added layer of fashion-world cool. The artist is taking the visual language of fashion and using it to create a striking, almost abstract composition. Fashion illustration is so often about capturing a fleeting moment, but this feels like it’s trying to capture something more timeless. It’s a beautiful reminder that art doesn't always need to be profound; sometimes, it can just be about the joy of looking.