Très Parisien, 1923, No. 2: Créations "LA TUNIQUE RADIAH "... 1923

This fashion plate called "Très Parisien, 1923, No. 2: Créations "LA TUNIQUE RADIAH" was made anonymously, with the intention of showing off new dress designs, I guess. What strikes me is the controlled chaos of the mark-making. The patterns on the dresses, while intricate, have a looseness, a kind of organised scribble that feels very of the moment. It's a reminder that even in commercial art, there's room for the hand, for the artist's touch. Look at the way the fabric drapes, almost like the artist is thinking through the garment's construction in real time. The lines aren’t precious, they’re functional. This makes me think of Matisse, especially his later paper cut-outs, where line and colour are so elegantly simplified, yet still convey so much information. With both artists, it's like watching them think through form, right there on the surface. Art is an ongoing conversation, right?