Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 168 : Grande robe du soir (...) 1914

This is George Barbier's "Grande robe du soir en brocart d'argent," from 1914. The stark black ink is so striking, the white pops right out. I love the way the figure emerges from this dark background through bold lines and geometric patterns. The whole composition feels so stylized, so posed, and the woman is giving you a stare that says she knows it, too. I’m curious about Barbier and his process. Was he thinking about Matisse and those dancers? Or the German Expressionists and their woodcuts? I think that the peacock, perched there so serenely, might be a nod to Aubrey Beardsley, who also liked to play with negative space to make a composition sparkle. Ultimately, it is a reminder that artists are always in conversation across time and space, inspiring one another to see the world anew. The dress in this drawing becomes a study of form, light, and shadow—a world of possibility.