Très Parisien, 1925, No. 1, Pl. 6: - PROMENADE 1925

Editor: This watercolor drawing titled "Très Parisien, 1925, No. 1, Pl. 6: - PROMENADE" by G-P. Joumard immediately gives me a sense of 1920s fashion and Parisian chic. The figure almost appears as a caricature with exaggerated features, walking in an equally stylized scene. How do you interpret this piece within its historical context? Curator: That's a great initial reading! I see it as a fascinating snapshot of the societal forces shaping the “new woman” image in post-World War I France. Mass media like fashion plates became increasingly influential in disseminating ideals of modernity. Do you notice anything in the woman’s dress or demeanor that suggests this modernity? Editor: Well, she looks quite self-assured, and her clothing is definitely modern. I mean, it has quite a distinct, stylish silhouette. Curator: Exactly. Her slim figure, short skirt hemline, and somewhat androgynous silhouette signaled a rejection of older, more restrictive codes. Also, the fact it appeared as part of a fashion magazine plate reinforces the commercialization of this image. It aimed not just to represent, but to *sell* this version of Parisian modernity. Were women really dressing like this on the street? How do you imagine this impacted female identity in 1920's Paris? Editor: I imagine there was pressure to conform to these ideals, but also perhaps excitement and a feeling of liberation from old expectations. Curator: Precisely. It represents a tension between aspirational imagery and the everyday lives of women – a push and pull in identity that art and media were central to at this time. Editor: I never considered how such an image in that type of mass publication could shape such a narrative and place women in that specific social context. Thank you for broadening my perspective! Curator: Likewise; your initial take on the stylization of the drawing has brought more depth into its construction.