Très Parisien, 1923, No. 3: Tissus DIÉDERICHS-SOIERIES / SOIR D'AOUT... 1923

This fashion plate called "Très Parisien" was made in 1923 by an anonymous artist, and is printed on paper. The artist’s hand here is so present in the curving lines that describe the figure. The shapes are simple but the colors are quietly complex, like the soft blues and greens amidst the black of the gown. It’s really just a few well-placed marks that bring this stylish figure to life. The flat surface lets the image operate more like an abstract composition than a literal depiction. There is a sense of air and light in the lightness of the lines, and the way they describe the cut of the dress. I think of how Matisse uses flat planes of colour in his paper cut outs to create a sense of depth and movement, and I see a similar playfulness at work here. This piece reminds me of Sonia Delaunay’s textiles and prints. Both artists show how the language of abstraction can inform and transform the everyday objects around us.