Très Parisien, 1923, No. 2: Tissus de E. MEYER & CIE 1923

Curator: Isn't this print fabulous? It's entitled "Très Parisien, 1923, No. 2: Tissus de E. MEYER & CIE," created in 1923. We are lucky enough to house it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It makes me smile, instantly transporting me back to a smoky Parisian salon with jazz music and clinking glasses. There's something so joyous and playful about it, yet also refined. Curator: Exactly! The artist captured that vibrant interwar period, when Paris was the undisputed fashion capital. These graphic works, designed for advertising, had real power in shaping public tastes and desires. This was mass media in the making, darling. Editor: You know, looking at the clothing, particularly the loose cuts and geometric patterns, I can feel that push-pull between liberation and tradition. The art deco influence is unmistakable. Do you think the choice of color, especially the prominence of blue, signifies anything? Curator: Blue was quite fashionable in that era, especially with its links to maritime chic and the Riviera lifestyle. But let's be honest, these aren't exactly everyday wear. It is more like an aspirational image targeted toward upper class women. The artist might be deliberately hinting at that leisure class through a marine palette with their “Brise Marine” tag. Editor: That is an important aspect. The clothes signal privilege. And the illustration style seems a bit cheeky, almost verging on caricature. This adds a layer of satire, perhaps? Curator: Could be, though fashion illustration, generally, has been pushing proportions and stylistic play for centuries, in a way. Editor: Hmm, well, thinking about it now, I am reminded of Man Ray photographs from the same period. A parallel in their dedication to fashion. Curator: What an apt connection! Fashion truly functioned as both an industry and an art form, shaping identity and visual culture for the modern world. Editor: Well, that certainly adds a layer to what I thought was only just fun! Curator: Indeed, and hopefully now it offers a glimpse into the complex forces at play.