La Guirlande, Album Mensuel d'Art et de literature, 1919-1920 1919 - 1920

This monthly art and literature album cover, La Guirlande, was created by Umberto Brunelleschi around 1919 or 1920. It has that flat, graphic quality, a distillation of form that feels oh-so-Art-Deco-Paris. It's all about the line, the shapes, how they fit together. It's not trying to trick you into thinking it's real; it’s revelling in its own artificiality. Look at the way the woman's pink dress flares, all angular and crisp. The roses dotted on the dress, are they decoration or do they suggest a certain vulnerability? The lines are crisp and flat, creating distinct shapes and forms. I love the way the branch of the tree, snakes around the vase like an elegant doodle, or a stylish signature. This piece reminds me of Erté. Both artists use line and form to create a sense of elegance and sophistication. They aren't trying to capture "reality," but instead, create their own stylized, glamorous world. Art, after all, isn't about answering questions; it's about starting conversations.