Très Parisien, 1926, No. 2, Pl. 5:- CHAMONIX 1926

This fashion plate, Très Parisien, 1926, No. 2, Pl. 5:- CHAMONIX, by G-P. Joumard, is a little sketch of women's fashion. It is a flat image, and the pastel colours give it a sweet sensibility. Looking at this image, I’m struck by the challenge of capturing a sense of movement and texture on a flat surface. The artist seems to have embraced the limitations of the medium, using simplified forms and bold outlines to suggest the drape and flow of the fabric. I can imagine them working, trying to figure out how to capture something in the fewest marks possible. The artist captures something essential about the energy and excitement of the era through the confident lines and playful composition. What would it have been like to have worn one of these dresses? Maybe the artist was thinking about the experience of women in this era and wanted to give them agency through their fashion. It makes me think about Sonia Delaunay's textiles - the way that artists inform and reflect on one another is something beautiful. It reminds me that we're all in this together, trying to make sense of the world around us and I think that is something to be celebrated.