Le Matin 1922 - 1926

George Barbier made this illustration called "Le Matin," or "The Morning," sometime in the 1920s, probably with pen, ink, and watercolor, and what strikes me most is the color. It’s all pastels, pinks, and blues, with these sharp black accents, like the little dog and the man lurking in the background! The whole thing feels very deliberate, staged almost, with a boudoir scene, and the woman arranged just so. Look at the way the lines are so clean and precise, especially in the drapery and the bed frame. It’s like Barbier is showing off his technical skill, but also creating this dreamy, slightly absurd atmosphere. And that guy in the back… Is he a vampire? A disapproving father? The dark figure creates a tension that stops the piece from being simply pretty. It reminds me a little of Erté, another artist from the same period, but Barbier has this extra layer of playful weirdness. It's like he's saying, "Yes, this is beautiful, but don't take it too seriously."