Très Parisien, 1923, No 6: 13.- LES FLEURS. - Deux jolies robes,... 1923

This print, Très Parisien, was made in 1923 by J. Dory. The flat planes of colour and stark black outlines, scream Art Deco. The picture is like a recipe. It's not just about the final ‘look’ but about the layers, the ingredients, and the process of getting there. I’m drawn to the way the artist uses colour to define form, especially in the dresses. The yellow dress on the left uses little black scribbles to suggest palm fronds. The lavender dress on the right is decorated with black and white motifs in a similar fashion. It's like the artist is saying, ‘Here’s a dress, but also here’s how you can make a dress.’ I'm reminded of Sonia Delaunay, who used bright colours and geometric shapes in her textile designs and paintings. Like Delaunay, Dory blurs the lines between art and design, inviting us to see the world as a canvas for experimentation and play. The piece really demonstrates how art embraces ambiguity, and multiple readings, rather than fixed meanings.