Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 2. - VENISE. - Corselet de drap d'argent... 1923

This fashion plate titled Très Parisien, made in 1923 by an anonymous artist, uses gentle washes of color and simple lines to describe the dress and the figure. It's like a recipe, not for a cake, but for an idea of Parisian chic. I love the way the artist is thinking through the materiality of the outfit, focusing on the drape and movement of the fabric. Check out the skirt, where we see a kind of cascading waterfall of layered tulle. The light catches it in different ways, some areas in almost complete darkness. It’s an odd effect, a bit clunky, but there is something about that rhythm that's really compelling. The overall effect is of something ephemeral, caught in a fleeting moment. It reminds me a little bit of Sonia Delaunay and the way she designed textiles, and was able to capture that energy of the new. It is an image that celebrates how art is made through the conversation and exchange of ideas across time.