Gazette du Bon Ton, 1921 - No. 9, p. 279: Twee vrouwen aan een bar 1921

Charles Laborde made this print of two women at a bar in 1921, as part of his work for the fashion magazine *Gazette du Bon Ton*. It’s made by way of lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the resistance between grease and water. Laborde likely drew his composition with a greasy crayon onto a flat slab of limestone, which was then chemically treated so that only the drawn areas would attract ink. This print would have been made in large numbers, as part of the magazine production. The material and process lend themselves to a quick, sketch-like feel, which suits the subject matter. You can almost feel the artist capturing a fleeting moment of Jazz Age Parisian life. The seemingly effortless lines belie the skilled work of the printer, and the many hands involved in the magazine’s production and distribution. By focusing on these aspects, we can see how even a seemingly simple image is the result of considerable labor and expertise.