Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 117 : Veste de velours (...) 1913

Editor: Here we have "Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 117." It's a print by Jan van Brock, showcasing Parisian fashion. I'm struck by the bold color combinations, and the rather… elongated figure. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, beyond the surface aesthetics, let's consider the cultural moment. In 1913, fashion wasn't merely about clothing; it was a signifier of social change and women’s evolving roles. The Art Nouveau style itself was a rejection of industrialization, embracing organic forms and handcrafted aesthetics. Do you see any of that here? Editor: Yes, I notice the swirling, plant-like designs on the jacket, and a certain elegance that feels very different from mass production. It’s almost a celebration of… artifice? Curator: Precisely. This "artifice" reveals anxieties around modernity. Women were gaining more social freedom, symbolized through fashion, yet still confined by societal expectations. The restrictive silhouettes, the focus on ornamentation – they reflect this push and pull. And what about the gaze? Editor: She's looking upwards, almost dreamily… maybe aspiring to something beyond her immediate reality? Or perhaps she is indifferent to us all. Curator: Exactly. That upward gaze invites speculation. It hints at the burgeoning feminist movements, but the figure remains somewhat passive, a decorative object. The journal itself catered to an elite audience. Editor: So, it's a complicated message: progress and constraint intertwined in a fashionable package? Curator: A perfect encapsulation. We get insight into gender, class, and the contradictions of the early 20th century, all in a fashion plate. Editor: That really shifts how I see this print. I wasn't just about fashion at all; it reflected a whole world in transition. Thanks.