Très Parisien, 1923, No 1: Création JEANNE LANVIN... 1923

This print, "Très Parisien" from 1923, a fashion plate really, presents a design by Jeanne Lanvin, and was made with some kind of print process. The marks are flat and uniform, a contrast to handmade painterly images, but even here, we can sense the hand of the artist in the careful design and composition. The color palette is restrained – black, white, and small pops of primary colors. The black coat is a strong, graphic shape, but look closer. It's not a solid, opaque area, but broken, almost velvety. It reminds me of lithography. The white fur trim around the collar and cuffs seems so plush, rendered with such simple means. And then there are those stripes of red and blue on the muffs, adding a touch of playfulness to an otherwise elegant outfit. This kind of work makes me think of artists like Erte, or more contemporary artists like Richard Haines, with a shared interest in fashion illustration and the power of line and color. These pieces remind us that art is not just about what we see, but how we see it. It's a conversation, an evolution of ideas across time. And like fashion, these images offer endless possibilities for interpretation.