Toilette de soirée en soie liberty noire. 1919

This is an image made in 1919, likely a print from a fashion magazine. Look at how the artist uses flattened shapes and color blocking. I'm trying to imagine what it was like to make this. What were they thinking? There is a sense of design, but also a playful, naive sensibility. I love how the artist simplifies the folds and drapes of the garment. I wonder if the artist was looking at Matisse or the Japanese masters? The use of flat planes and decorative patterns reminds me of their work. It’s fascinating how artists, across time, converse with each other. Each of us borrowing, stealing, and reinterpreting ideas. It becomes this endless feedback loop of creativity. I think about the artist making the artwork and how it may have evolved over time and maybe changed from their original intention. The magic lies in how we interpret it, how we find some meaning.