Gazette du Bon Ton, 1914 - No. 5, pag. 174: Bas-reliëfs 1914

Curator: So, here we have "Gazette du Bon Ton, 1914 - No. 5, pag. 174: Bas-reliefs," a print from J. Renée Souef, placing us right at the cusp of immense societal shifts. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: I find the Art Nouveau style captivating, especially how it depicts these fashion silhouettes almost as architectural forms. They seem strangely both modern and like relics from a bygone era. What's your take? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the context – 1914. Think about the materials readily available for fashion production, the rise of print media like "Gazette du Bon Ton" influencing consumer desires. And the looming war. The rigid structure in the outfits contrasts the changing roles for women; the material restrictions shaped their form, almost imprisoning it. This image becomes less about aesthetic beauty and more about the socio-economic factors determining the lives of women at this time. Do you think that this high society approach is successful, considering the advent of a global conflict? Editor: That's a strong contrast I hadn't considered. Focusing on such seemingly frivolous high fashion just before a world war seems almost perverse, like conspicuous consumption in the face of inevitable change. Curator: Exactly. The very act of printing and circulating such images—dependent on labor, ink, and paper—becomes a statement about wealth and privilege in a world on the brink of collapse. Even the artist's choice of graphic art allows them to produce a design at low-cost and distribute the trend rapidly. What is high art when it's designed with accessibility? Editor: Seeing it that way makes the print far more than just a pretty picture. It's a record of a specific material moment. The production values are essential to understanding its function and significance. Thank you for this shift of focus! Curator: Absolutely, and hopefully, you'll think about labor conditions of dressmakers when considering high fashion in the future. The means of production are, after all, a great method of inquiry.