Dimensions: height 240 mm, width 191 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This print of evening attire, made by George Barbier in 1921, has a touch of theatre about it, with its carefully posed figures and theatrical lighting. What strikes me about this image is how Barbier uses line and colour to create depth and texture. The stripes on the woman's coat, for instance, aren't just decorative; they create a sense of movement and form. They feel almost sculptural. The way the colours are layered, with the soft blues and greys contrasting with the pops of colour in the background, creates a kind of visual harmony, and it's worth noticing how he uses the black ink to describe the contours of the garments. There's an echo of Aubrey Beardsley in Barbier's work, but with a lighter touch. Like Beardsley, Barbier embraces artifice and decoration, but there's a playful quality to his images that feels very much of its time. Art Deco was such a fantastic movement, all about dressing up and going out, and this artwork really captures that moment.
Comments
rijksmuseum over 1 year ago
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If the price of the Gazette du Bon Ton was steep, that of the clothes pictured was exorbitant. Evening attire was especially luxurious, consisting chiefly of silk garments decorated with gold and silver thread or expensive fur. Naturally, clothes like these called for costly accessories, which a true lady wore sparingly. An outfit had to work as a whole: all of the details, from headbands to high-heeled shoes, had to fit together. And that, in turn, required money, time, care and, most importantly, bon ton (good taste).
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