Les Douze Mois de l'Année: Ventose 1919

Marthe Romme made this print, Ventose, part of a calendar series, using flat color and bold outlines to give it real graphic punch. I can imagine Romme at work, layering shapes and colors to capture the essence of this windy month. Look at the figure's dress – it's like a field of blooming flowers, each circle a tiny burst of energy. And then there's the checkered cape billowing behind her, so playful. Maybe she was thinking about the changing seasons, the way winter starts to give way to spring. It reminds me of Sonia Delaunay's textiles, and her love of rhythm and color. The artist seems to be engaged in this ongoing conversation with other artists, reaching back in time and across styles. You feel the painting is not just about one thing, or one way of seeing, but about all the possibilities that open up when you start playing with shapes, colours, and ideas.