Journal des Demoiselles 1915

This fashion plate from Journal des Demoiselles captures two figures with a delicate hand and a keen eye for the styles of the time. Looking at it, I can imagine the artist carefully laying down each line, mixing soft washes of color to bring the garments to life. I wonder, what was on their mind as they rendered these women? Did they ponder the lives these women would lead? The materials the garments were made of? The drape of fabric as it moves? The dress on the right with its tiered ruffles and a light pink shawl has the lightness of spring. The umbrella adds a touch of whimsy, a playful counterpoint to the figure on the left in the blue dress, who holds what seems like a letter. Perhaps a secret admirer? All makers are in conversation, and this plate has echoes of other graphic artists such as Manet. In painting we use line and color to explore, communicate, and imagine. Each brushstroke, each choice of hue, contributes to an ongoing dialogue that invites the viewer to engage with the image and to interpret and find new meanings.