Kick 1915

Gerda Wegener made this image, “Kick,” using pochoir, a printing technique employing stencils. The method involves laying paper stencils onto the print and then applying watercolor by hand. Pochoir allowed for the creation of images with clean lines and flat areas of color, and it became popular for producing luxury fashion prints and illustrations, as it was cheaper than hand-painting each image. Here, the precision of pochoir is apparent in the sharp outlines of the figure's dress and hat, and the overall aesthetic has a fashionable feel. The method also allowed for a division of labor, with skilled artisans applying the colors using brushes. This print speaks to the intersection of art, craft, and industry in the early 20th century, and the way that printmaking techniques like pochoir offered new possibilities for artistic production and dissemination. By combining traditional art practices with industrial methods, Wegener blurred the boundaries between fine art and commercial design, and her engagement with printmaking reflects a broader interest in the democratization of art through accessible formats.