La Guirlande, Album Mensuel d'Art et de literature, 1919-1920 : dansend paar 1919 - 1920

This print of a dancing couple by Umberto Brunelleschi was made for an art and literature album between 1919-1920. I’m thinking about how Brunelleschi made this - probably starting with a quick sketch, maybe even on the dance floor, trying to capture that elegant, swooping movement. There’s a sense of trial and error in the composition, like the scene has emerged through a process of layering and refinement. The woman’s dress - that pale blue colour - is so chic against the red carpet and floral wallpaper! It's amazing how he makes a pattern out of the flowers and window without overwhelming the figures. I imagine Brunelleschi, thinking about Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, constantly observing, trying to distill the energy and attitude of the jazz age. Painting can be a process of inquiry for both the artist and the viewer, I think, offering different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. It's like they're all in conversation!