Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1912, Costumes Parisiens, no. 8 1912

This is a print made by George Barbier in 1912 for the Journal des Dames et des Modes, showing Parisian fashions. I am curious about the way Barbier has placed the figure within the composition – she is surrounded by grapes and foliage, framing her body with these romantic elements. The woman is holding two roses; she seems calm, quietly confident, and self-assured. What was it like to be Barbier at this moment in time, capturing Parisian fashion through the female form? I wonder how he translated the world around him into these stylized shapes? I find myself responding to the graphic elements of the print, like the sharp lines of her clothing, and the small details, like the roses on her dress. Prints like this were popular in the early twentieth century. This artwork demonstrates the way artists across history work in conversation with one another, borrowing ideas, and finding their own creative voice.