Gazette du Bon Ton, 1921 - No. 3, pag. 90-91 1921

Charles Martin created this page for the Gazette du Bon Ton in 1921 using stencils and pochoir. The composition is balanced, with text and images arranged symmetrically across the two pages, creating a visual rhythm. The stylized figures, each sporting a unique beard, draw attention to the absurd cultural codes related to masculine identity and status. Martin uses line and shape to create caricatures, exaggerating features to humorous effect. Notice how the repetitive patterns and textures of the beards contrast with the flat, minimal treatment of the faces. Martin destabilizes conventional ideas about representation through semiotic play, using the beard as a signifier of identity. These quirky illustrations engage with philosophical ideas about the construction of identity and the performative nature of social roles. The formal qualities of the artwork, therefore, become integral to its cultural critique. Art is not merely aesthetic, it reflects cultural codes and philosophical reflections.