Gazette du Bon Ton, 1920 - No. 9, Pl. 66: O Maitre el Relicario / Robe de dîners garnie de ruban 1920

Fernand Siméon made this print, Gazette du Bon Ton, in 1920. It's got the feeling of something dashed off with dry, graphic lines, yet still conveying a sense of mood. I can imagine Siméon in his studio, quickly laying down these fluid strokes, capturing the essence of the Jazz Age. Those colors – muted greens and blush tones with black - feel so right for the scene. See how he renders the musicians, slightly caricatured, engrossed in their performance for the disinterested woman in the patterned dress. It feels a bit like a silent film in its aesthetic. It’s not just about showing us what people looked like then, but about freezing a cultural moment with a wry sense of humor. It puts me in mind of other artists like Raoul Dufy, who also captured the spirit of his time with wit and an assured hand. This artwork reminds us that every generation of artists builds upon the last.