Très Parisien, 1923, No 7: 6. - CABOURG. - Simple et jolie... 1923

This is an illustration from 1923, for a magazine called 'Très Parisien', which translates to 'Very Parisian'. The artist is anonymous, but I'm imagining them working quickly, capturing the feeling of the moment in confident strokes and lines. The colour palette is muted and soft, with creams, whites, and touches of gold, punctuated by the bold black and white pattern of one of the outfits. Look at the way the white dress on the left has been worked, a layering of soft brushstrokes to give the impression of lace or intricate embroidery. The artist has used a stippling effect here to add texture and depth, almost pointillist. The flatness of the image emphasizes the stylish simplicity of the garments and the stylised figures. It reminds me of the graphic works of artists like Laura Owens. The way that she embraces different kinds of line, texture and shape. This illustration, like Owens' work, shows that fashion and art have always been in conversation with one another.