Très Parisien, 1923, No 1: Les Tricots de luxe de ERÈS... 1923

This pochoir print, made in 1923 by an anonymous artist, showcases the luxurious knitwear of Èrès. Immediately, the geometric patterns seize our gaze: the stripes and polka dots on the left, and the checkered pattern on the right. These motifs are not merely decorative; they speak to a cultural yearning for order and modernity. The checkered pattern, a grid of right angles, can be traced back to ancient times, symbolizing the rational organization of space. We find it in Roman city planning, medieval heraldry, and the Dutch Masters' tiled floors. Over time, the checkered motif has recurred in various forms, each era imbuing it with new meaning. In psychoanalytic terms, this pattern can represent the human desire to impose structure on a chaotic world, to tame the unconscious through rational design. This striving for control is a recurrent theme in art, echoing humanity’s ongoing negotiation between order and chaos. Consider the powerful emotional pull of these designs, engaging us on a subconscious level as they subtly convey the desire for harmony. Note the non-linear, cyclical progression of this symbol. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.