Eros ; Robe et manteau, pour le soir, de Worth 1924

Editor: So, here's a drawing by George Barbier, “Eros; Robe et manteau, pour le soir, de Worth” from 1924. It's very Art Deco. What strikes me is how it showcases the dresses; they seem so luxurious yet streamlined. What catches your eye? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the lithographic process, right? Consider the labor involved in creating these images for mass consumption. It speaks volumes about the evolving relationship between high fashion, its dissemination, and the accessibility, or inaccessibility, of luxury itself in the 1920s. Note also that marble column! Is it real marble, or simulated? What statement does this make about materiality and authenticity, if you were to create such an image with modern software? Editor: That's interesting, I was just thinking about the composition and the colours. The juxtaposition of the dresses with the classical statue seems intended. The garments contrast with the classical statue, perhaps the image highlights mass manufacture with individuality? Curator: Precisely. And look at the lines! Barbier is carefully considering not only the garments themselves, but how they would appear in reproduction. This shifts fashion illustration from simply depicting clothing to creating a carefully crafted image designed for a market and a consumer. Can we separate “Art” from Advertisement, in a work like this, when mass media itself relies on highly skilled craftsmanship? How much more, or less, value, might someone have attributed to either one? Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that, the printing process adds a different layer of meaning to the image itself and the intended audience. This changes my understanding. Curator: Right, and examining that production gives us a far richer view than simply saying, "Oh, that's a nice dress." Hopefully more insights.