Grande robe du soir, 1913

George Barbier made this artwork in 1913 with ink and watercolor, and what a moment he captured. Imagine the artist setting up his table, mixing watercolors, and then leaning in to draw this fashionable figure in her exquisite dress. What was he thinking as he picked out each colour? The blue in the window is cool, almost icy, but the dress is another story. It’s dark, rich, and bursting with roses in shades of pink that give a sense of warmth. The way she stands there, with her hand outstretched, it almost seems like she's inviting you into her world. What I find striking is the combination of the flat patterns and the slight illusion of depth. It’s as if Barbier is winking at us, acknowledging the artifice of the image while still creating something beautiful. Painters are always looking at each other’s work, borrowing and riffing, don’t you think?