Très Parisien, 1925, No. 9: Supplément. TOUT L'ESPAGNE. Créations Philippe et Gaston 1925

This fashion plate, "Très Parisien, 1925, No. 9," by G-P. Joumard, is a small paper print. It shows two figures with very clean, flat colour and sharp line. It’s so interesting how the artist reduces the human form to these elegant shapes. Look closely at the fur trim on the coats. Joumard’s touch is minimal; economical. Each stroke feels deliberate, mapping out the highlights and shadows. I love this balance between precision and expressiveness. It’s art but it is also design, something to be used and that exists in the world. There’s a kind of playful tension between the art and its function. It reminds me a little of Erte, or even Matisse’s cut-outs, this sense of the decorative, and an ongoing exchange of ideas. These images are not precious or sacred, but are to be engaged with, and enjoyed. The artist embraces multiple interpretations over fixed meanings.