Femina, 1 Mai 1914, 14e Année, nr. 19: modeprent "Les chiens suivent aussi la mode" 1914

This fashion plate, "The dogs also follow fashion," was made in 1914 by Bernard Boutet de Monvel, probably using pochoir, which is a printmaking technique using stencils. The colours are muted, which gives it an elegance that echoes the fashions. Notice how the linear elements create the forms. It’s like a sophisticated coloring book! Look at how the lines suggest the texture of the clothing and the fur of the dogs. I love how the artist captured a sense of Parisian life here. There’s this feeling of being in the moment, but also a timelessness about it. The formal wear of the people, the way they're casually showing off the style of their pets... Fashion illustration reminds me of the work of Erté, who also had a knack for capturing the essence of a particular era through elegant, streamlined forms. They both seem to understand the importance of capturing a feeling, rather than just rendering an image.