Gazette du Bon Ton, 1920 - No. 3, Pl. 18: Et puis voici mon coeur (...) / Robe d'Été en voile de Ceylan de Rodier 1920

Charles Martin made this print for the Gazette du Bon Ton in 1920. Look at how the blue ink defines the figure in the foreground, a modern woman in her summer dress. I wonder what Martin was thinking when he made it? Was he carefully planning each line, or letting his hand lead the way? I bet he loved the way the blue ink created the shadow and defined the forms, especially in the dress and hat. It almost feels as if he's sculpting with ink. There is a directness and simplicity to the mark-making in the print; lines that follow one another and describe the overall form, but somehow retain their independence. It’s a funny image, mixing bold outlines with muted tones, but that tension gives it a real playful energy. We can imagine Martin in conversation with other artists of his time, picking up on ideas of art deco and avant-garde fashion. Like how we artists today are in a continuous dialogue, building on each other's insights and experiments. It’s a reminder that art is not a solitary pursuit, but a collaborative and evolving process.