Femina, Mars 1928: 8: Twee japonnen met volants, van Philippe & Gaston 1928

This is a print of two dresses with flounces by Juan Moreno Tejada made for Femina magazine in March 1928. I love the pared-down monochrome palette. It's like the artist mixed black and white in different proportions to give us the sense of volume and shadow. The material aspects here are all about line and shape. See how Tejada uses precise, almost architectural strokes to define the dresses? The flounces, those delicate ruffles, are rendered with such attention to detail, it's almost hypnotic. Look at the figure on the right, the repetition of these lines makes for a rhythm, like a musical score. It’s a really smart drawing, not overly fussy but still evocative. This print reminds me a little of Erté's fashion illustrations, same period, same elegant flair. But where Erté goes for flamboyance, Tejada keeps it cool and collected. There's a sense of sophistication here that feels timeless, even though the fashion itself is so distinctly of its era. It's a conversation across time, these images, a shared understanding of style and grace.