Hapers Bazar Cover 

This is a cover of Harper's Bazar magazine, created in 1921 by the artist Erte. It shows a reclining woman beneath a large, patterned moon. But more than this, it also reveals something of the anxieties and concerns of the post-war years. In many ways the magazine itself operated as an institution. Publications such as Harper’s shaped social tastes, and its target audience was the emerging class of women with greater social freedoms and access to consumer goods. The scene is dream-like, even decadent, but the title of the issue, "What's Happened to Society?" hints at the disruptions caused by the First World War. While the pre-war years had seen economic and social stability, the 1920s were marked by rapid social change. Understanding this image fully requires us to act as social historians. We can look at the economic conditions of the time, examine the evolution of publishing, and consider the changing role of women in society. Only then can we appreciate how even a simple magazine cover can reflect deeper cultural shifts.