L’Après-Midi d’un faune 1920

Curator: Ah, here we have George Barbier's "L’Après-Midi d’un faune" from 1920, a mixed-media print showcasing the essence of Art Deco illustration. The piece is just so evocative of its time. Editor: My immediate reaction is... whimsical! The flowing lines and the pastel colours create a dreamy, almost ethereal atmosphere. It feels like a stylish daydream. Curator: Absolutely, the era profoundly influences the style, capturing a sense of playful modernity and exoticism. The Faune, in many ways, stood for liberation after years of repression. Editor: Yes! And Barbier’s Faun departs somewhat from the lascivious or brutish creature we sometimes see. He looks almost startled, his posture revealing less predatory intent than desperate longing. Even the use of pale turquoise splotches decorating his body feels light and decorative. It reminds us of similar adornments during the Art Deco period that glorified ornamentation. Curator: Precisely, we must consider Barbier’s contribution to fashion during the '20s; a playful take on older artistic mythologies allowed more room to legitimize pleasure. The seemingly straightforward subject matter provided ample territory for pushing boundaries within a world recovering from immense loss. Editor: The running figure alongside the Faun reinforces this feeling. It evokes movement, progress, and a release of pent-up energy. I imagine that she serves as a representation of womanhood entering modernity alongside the animalistic wildness that has always driven artistic production. Curator: The way he balances symbolism with chic modernity reflects a society in flux and that is certainly why this image is endlessly alluring. His blend of artistic mythologies gives depth to the scene but offers an interesting perspective that makes the image much more accessible than its historical context. Editor: It definitely reflects an interesting cultural moment and I find it fascinating how Barbier interprets that visual language through the visual history and memory attached to figures like fauns. Curator: Indeed. "L’Après-Midi d’un faune" allows us to examine visual culture during times of rapid social change through a very fashionable lens. Editor: I concur. The ability of these types of artistic expressions to reflect inner feelings via an almost fantasy lens, it's endlessly compelling.