Très Parisien, 1923, No. 4: 1. - SUIS-JE BELLE? 1. Très jeune,... 1923

Editor: This is *Très Parisien, 1923, No. 4*, a mixed-media print now at the Rijksmuseum. The figures and fashion seem to represent the stylish women of Paris in the Art Deco style. What's interesting to me is the flat, almost stylized rendering. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider *Très Parisien* within the context of 1920s French society. The title, meaning "Very Parisian," signals a self-conscious focus on defining modern ideals. This was a period of significant social and cultural shifts following World War I. Notice how the print’s emphasis on fashion elevates the role of clothing to be indicators of progress and personal expression. Editor: So, fashion becoming almost political? Curator: Precisely. Think about who is constructing these ideals of beauty and for what purpose? Fashion magazines became very powerful arbiters of taste, often reinforcing a certain ideal accessible to specific socio-economic groups, while ignoring other populations. How does that affect your reading? Editor: I see what you mean. It's not just about clothes; it’s about projecting a certain image that reflects societal power dynamics and perhaps creates aspirational, yet limited, ideals for women during the roaring twenties. Curator: Exactly. And isn't it interesting that this was being produced during the interwar period, as many in the Western world are grappling with loss and seeking to modernize? So the “belle” in "Suis-Je Belle?" asks not just if these fashions are beautiful, but perhaps more broadly, whether Paris herself remains beautiful. Editor: It completely reframes the image for me to consider the cultural and historical weight behind something seemingly so light and decorative. Thanks, I see the artwork with new eyes now.