Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 48 : Robe d'aprés-mid (...) 1913

H. Robert Dammy made this print of Parisian fashions in 1913. I can imagine him delicately layering the colors, building up the image step by step. The green against black is so striking, as it winds around the lady’s velvety black afternoon dress. And that huge fluffy muff! I wonder what it would have been like to wear something like that. The artist is in an ongoing conversation with the fashion of the moment, but also with art itself; the stylized forms recall art nouveau, but the geometric background hints at the modernism to come. It makes me think about how artists are always looking, taking notes, responding to what's around them, and riffing off each other in a timeless exchange of visual ideas. In the end, the artist gives us a glimpse into a specific moment, but also something that feels timeless. We see through their eyes, but also with our own.