Très Parisien, 1923, No 9: 4. - TURQUOISE. - Une étroite gaine de moire... 1923

Curator: My first impression? It’s a daydream. She's got that languid elegance of someone completely at peace with herself. Sort of how I feel after a really good nap! Editor: We're looking at "Très Parisien, 1923, No 9: 4 - TURQUOISE. - Une étroite gaine de moire..." a print currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: What a mouthful of a title. The colors! That gentle blue. It's almost hypnotic, pulling you right into the carefree mood of the Jazz Age. Editor: The image really captures a moment when women's fashion started to mirror a desire for social change. Gone are the restrictive corsets. Instead we see lighter fabrics and looser shapes. Curator: Exactly! You can almost hear the champagne bubbles fizzing, can't you? Though her gaze seems contemplative...maybe she’s thinking about all the rules she’s breaking just by existing in that gorgeous flapper dress. I’m sure those hemlines were scandalizing someone, somewhere. Editor: And note how the art deco style flattens the picture plane, pushing the figure forward. There’s also this feminine colour palette creating what could be perceived today as illustrative and welcoming imagery. However, these representations can often exclude diverse voices. Curator: A party is always nicer when everyone is welcome, or at least it should be. This illustration, though seemingly simple, hints at something a little more complicated underneath all the glamor. Editor: Indeed. Art holds a mirror to its time, reflecting not only the joys but also the complexities and inequalities present in society. These pieces encourage ongoing conversation and a reassessment of who is seen and who is rendered invisible. Curator: I suppose a silent image can speak volumes when we start asking it questions. Gives me a whole new appreciation for the power of that dress and its wearer! Editor: It also prompts us to critically examine fashion's ever-evolving role in constructing and contesting social norms.