Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 84 : Grande robe du soir (...) 1913

George Barbier made this print, *Grande robe du soir…*, in 1913 for a fashion journal, rendering the image with fine lines and flat areas of color. There’s a real elegance to how Barbier lays down the colors, creating a sense of depth and texture with so few marks. The vertical lines that define the woman’s gown create the illusion of folds and movement, even though they’re just simple strokes on paper. The limited palette—soft gold, muted green, and periwinkle blue—gives the whole image a cohesive feel, like a faded dream. I’m also drawn to the way the artist uses the patterned background to create a stage-like space for the figure. It reminds me of the sets designed by Matisse for the Ballets Russes, where color and pattern become characters in their own right. Fashion illustration has always been a dialogue between commerce and art, and you can see the seeds of Art Deco coming into bloom.