Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Mai 1929, No. 105, 9e Année, p. 24 1929

This fashion plate is from a 1929 issue of *Art - Goût - Beauté*. It's anonymous, like so much of the printed matter that makes up our world, and it’s rendered in a flat, almost naive style. The colours are muted, elegant—lots of greens and blues and soft tans, and the lines are crisp. What strikes me is how these images were made to be reproduced. They are so simple and clear in their forms. Look at how the textures are suggested with just a few lines, and how the fabric drapes with minimal shading. It’s all about conveying an idea, a feeling. The focus is on the shape, and the possibility of movement of the garments. It’s not about realism, but about style, and about the joy of fashion. There's something here that reminds me of the work of Erté, but with a quieter, more understated touch. Both artists explore the intersection of fashion, art, and design, but where Erté is flamboyant, this anonymous artist is restrained. This little print speaks to the fact that art is, at its heart, a conversation.