Chez la Modiste 1905 - 1915

Editor: Here we have "Chez la Modiste," a drawing and print by Maurice Delcourt, made sometime between 1905 and 1915. It's currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm immediately struck by the intimacy of the scene, the way it captures a private moment of dress-up, but also a certain flatness. What do you see in this piece that stands out? Curator: What strikes me is the depiction of women and the culture surrounding them. Genre scenes like this were quite popular. Consider the public role of art at the time and what messages this image sends about class and leisure. We are observing a specific social ritual, the careful selection of attire, elevated to an art form. How does that tie into, perhaps, the politics of display at the time? Editor: I see your point. It does seem like a subtle commentary on the fashion industry and its influence, presented as an everyday slice-of-life. What do you mean about the "politics of display" affecting such artworks? Curator: Well, institutions often choose to show certain narratives while obscuring others. How were women and consumer culture being represented within those walls? This also extends to artistic circles, salons, art criticism of the era. Delcourt seems to invite the public into what was historically considered to be private spaces. This voyeuristic view carries social implications as to access to feminine intimacy, particularly among elite members of society. Editor: I never considered the way institutions frame the narrative in the display, I suppose that impacts my perception too. This helps to see what social class the artist belonged to or served. Curator: Precisely. Considering the power structures embedded within museum presentation broadens how we perceive it all. Editor: I am seeing it! That opens up a new lens for looking at art. Curator: Glad to hear it. Art is always a product of the time, its location and, inevitably, socio-political issues and challenges.