Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1912, Costumes Parisiens, no. 2: Habit de soiré (...) 1912

This is a fashion plate, 'Habit de Soirée', made by Bernard Boutet de Monvel in 1912. It’s rendered with such precision and clarity, it makes you think about artmaking as a process of distillation. How do you capture the essence of something with the fewest possible marks? The palette is restrained; mostly blacks and whites with subtle gradations that emphasize the contours of the figure. Take a look at the way the artist uses line to define the shape of the suit. Each stroke feels deliberate, economical. There is something haunting about the gaze. The texture is smooth, almost velvety, which gives the image a tactile quality despite being a print. This reminds me of Manet, who also had a knack for capturing the textures of fabric with just a few brushstrokes. Both artists seem to suggest a world that's both elegant and slightly melancholic. It's a conversation across time about beauty, form, and the art of seeing.