Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Février 1926, No. 66, 6e Année, p. 20: Création Jean Patou / Création Doeuillet 1926

Curator: Here we have a print titled "Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l'élégance féminine, Février 1926." Editor: Immediately striking! The stylization, those flat planes of color, it feels both chic and slightly detached. Curator: The piece showcases designs by Jean Patou and Doeuillet and originally appeared as an illustration in a fashion magazine. You see, the intention was to highlight the material culture of the time. These garments were carefully designed, manufactured, marketed, and consumed, reflecting a broader industrial shift and consumer culture in the 1920s. Editor: I'm captivated by how the composition directs the gaze. Note the stark contrast between the two women, positioned almost like opposing sides of a visual argument, framed against that dramatic backdrop. It's all lines and geometric forms. The careful attention to structure is hard to ignore. Curator: I'm drawn to consider the labor behind the clothing. We’re seeing mass produced lace used here which tells a different story than hand-made textiles of earlier eras. These designs reflect not just aesthetics but available resources. Editor: Certainly. And the reduction of form enhances this period feeling, almost a caricature of the Art Deco silhouette, with flattened figures, sharp angles and that insistent verticality, echoing skyscrapers of the time. Curator: It speaks volumes about the democratization of fashion – the increasing accessibility of trendy designs thanks to modern manufacturing capabilities. Editor: This focus, as always, illuminates so much! The interplay of color, and line tells a complete story. Curator: Understanding the creation and reach allows us to fully realize the complex role fashion played in shaping society. Editor: Right. Seeing the surface opens us up to seeing deeper still.