Très Parisien, 1927, No. 10 : 15.-Sylvette.-Jolie robe de form (...) 1927

Editor: We're looking at "Très Parisien, 1927, No. 10," a fashion illustration in watercolor and pastel by an anonymous artist, housed at the Rijksmuseum. It's incredibly evocative of the Art Deco period, so elegant, and I'm struck by the muted, almost wistful color palette. What draws your eye? Curator: Oh, the 1920s! The air practically crackles with possibility, doesn't it? I see a quiet rebellion in those drop-waist dresses and bobbed haircuts. Look how the artist uses those pastel colours – the green, the peach – to create this intimate space. Are they simply showing the fashions, or hinting at something deeper? I imagine a couple of young women forging their own paths in this modern world. Tell me, do you sense any narrative here? Editor: Definitely. I imagine them as flappers, on the cusp of something new. It is quite daring and very evocative, but somewhat of a statement. It’s the way they are posed too. Curator: Exactly. There's almost a touch of melancholy about it, despite the chic clothes. Perhaps that's the anonymous nature of the artist peeking through? A kind of commentary, you think? That’s fascinating to me. Editor: It is really incredible, considering the fashion. Now I feel I know a lot more about art deco and narrative thanks to you. Curator: And I'm utterly captivated by the way the illustration balances modern style with subtle, deeper questions. A tiny time capsule!