Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 12.- EN VISITE... 1923

This is "Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 12.- EN VISITE...", made in 1923, by an anonymous artist, likely for a fashion magazine, or as a promotional piece. The flat application of gouache or ink creates a stylized representation of fashionable women on paper. The process here feels immediate, the colors laid down with an economy of means. I'm struck by the way the artist balances flat color with intricate pattern. Look at the dress on the left, for instance. The lavender is so evenly applied, and yet the dark outlines of the geometric shapes give it a sense of depth and texture. It's almost like a proto-Op art effect, with the shapes playing against the flat ground. There’s a similarity here to some of the graphic design work of Sonia Delaunay, someone who also understood the power of pattern and color to create a dynamic visual experience. Like Delaunay, this artist is interested in how art intersects with the everyday, in how it can be both beautiful and functional. It’s all about seeing the world in new ways and embracing the ambiguous nature of art and fashion.