Très Parisien, 1923, No 9: 8. - SIMPLICITÉ. - Élégantes et discrètes... 1923

This fashion plate, published in Paris in 1923, captures a moment in time with simple lines and delicate colors. Imagine the artist, whoever they were, carefully laying down each stroke, building up these two elegant figures bit by bit. I can almost feel the artist experimenting with patterns and textures, the flat black of one outfit playing against the patterned fabric of the other. It makes me think of the way artists like Matisse used pattern to create depth and interest in their paintings. There’s a real sense of curiosity and play in the way the artist has handled the different materials. I see the influence of Art Deco in those clean lines and geometric shapes, a style that was all about celebrating modernity and sophistication. Each piece inspires the next, creating a chain reaction that keeps the conversation going. Painting, in this way, becomes a form of embodied expression. We are left with the uncertainty and ambiguity which allows for multiple interpretations.