Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Juin 1932, No. 142, 12e Année, p. 30 1932

This fashion plate comes from Paris in June 1932. What strikes me is the use of line and space to create a world of leisure and elegance, though I can't tell with what it was made. The scene depicts figures around a car. The artist’s process feels direct, immediate, capturing the essence of a moment with economy and flair. Look at the cross-hatching used to give the figures depth. What is left unsaid is as important as what is actually described. The textures are suggested rather than explicitly rendered, which gives the image an airy, open quality. The limited color palette and delicate linework also contribute to an overall atmosphere of refinement. Each mark and gesture relates to the whole, suggesting the fleeting impressions of modern life. This piece reminds me a bit of the quick sketches made by Kees van Dongen, both sharing a knack for capturing the spirit of their time, though Rouit's style is more restrained and understated. I love how art, like fashion, is an ongoing conversation.