Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 4.- JOYEUSE. -1. Fulgurante noire... 1923

This fashion plate, titled “Très Parisien, 1923, No 5,” captures the spirit of Parisian style during the Roaring Twenties. Note the floral motif adorning the hip of the figure in black. The flower, a symbol of beauty and fleeting youth, is ever present in fashion and art throughout history. The flower motif reminds me of the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, a time when flowers were frequently used to express renewal and the ephemeral nature of life. This echoes in later works, such as those by the Pre-Raphaelites, who imbued flowers with complex layers of meaning related to beauty and mortality. Here, in this 1920s context, this floral adornment reflects the period’s psychological undercurrents—a desire to embrace life exuberantly after the trauma of the First World War. The motif transcends mere decoration, tapping into our subconscious longing for beauty and a poignant recognition of life’s transient nature.