Tailleur pépita, gilet de piqué blanc, boutons dorés. Toque de paille rouge. 1919

Curator: I find myself charmed by this print from 1919, "Tailleur pépita, gilet de piqué blanc, boutons dorés. Toque de paille rouge." It appears to be a fashion plate. What strikes you first about it? Editor: There’s a whimsical melancholy to it, wouldn’t you say? The colours are muted, even melancholic, despite the bright accents. A kind of dreamy interwar sensibility, rendered with a lovely art nouveau line. Curator: Absolutely. The figure's posture hints at the somber mood of post-war Europe. Note how the figures seem to engage with the external environment but also hold each other – literally – within their inner circles, representing mutual support within constrained societal conventions of this historical moment. Editor: The flatness of the forms also seems pertinent. The flat color is certainly reflective of early print techniques and of popular taste during that era. And that rather stiff embrace is a testament to rigid social expectations for the female role within a quickly changing, even disintegrating social context. This also reminds me of the impact that Japanese art had during the time on European art circles! Curator: Precisely. The print captures this delicate balancing act perfectly, symbolizing a longing for what has been lost while embracing new aesthetic conventions. The visual symbols such as the tree act as guardians, protecting them within established societal and generational values. It also appears as a reminder to stay grounded and committed despite changes around them. Editor: One is invited to interpret how art, especially commercial art like this fashion plate, played a complex part in representing and indeed shaping perceptions around change, social role and public appearance. Curator: The print prompts one to contemplate our role in the public and private sphere. Editor: It really does capture an era—with so much subtly and artful restraint.