Très Parisien, 1925, No. 7, Pl. 10: Création CHERUIT - RÊVERIE 1925

Curator: This delicate 1925 drawing by G-P. Joumard, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, is titled "Très Parisien, No. 7, Pl. 10: Création CHERUIT - Rêverie." Editor: My immediate sense is of elegant constraint. The pastel palette and linear style feel both airy and precise. There is something understated and melancholy, the color gives a quietness to the whole piece. Curator: Considering the date, 1925, this drawing operates within the vibrant, transformative social landscape of the interwar years. It embodies the aspirations and anxieties of women finding new social, economic and artistic positions. Editor: The geometry is key here; it reflects the Art Deco sensibility. Note how the shapes of her hat, the lines of the balcony, all interact and structure the work. And there is tension created by the balance and symmetry achieved by this figure that breaks away from her static support system. Curator: Joumard highlights the relationship between fashion and identity, framing the subject against this very stylized balcony. What does it mean for a woman to quite literally be framed in such a structured architectural and social space? The drawing shows a certain social performance. Editor: I see how the architectural context emphasizes the geometric nature, and the subject reading the letter certainly contrasts with that and injects some storytelling into the piece. The limited color choice simplifies and accentuates shapes; almost making a logo out of the clothing itself. Curator: Perhaps it encourages us to ask, "What is she dreaming about?" As we move forward, we see these designs and styles still shaping much of our modern dialogue surrounding gender and fashion. Editor: Looking closer now, I am stuck by how simple forms when carefully constructed bring about the work's sophisticated style. It’s interesting to think of this kind of visual construction so rich in style informing societal perspectives.