Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 113 : Robe de velours (...) 1913

This print of a mother and daughter was made by Jan van Brock for the Journal des Dames et des Modes in Paris in 1913. The colour palette is soft and powdery, almost dreamlike, achieved through delicate washes of colour. It makes me think about the subtle touch and artistry involved in the printmaking process. Van Brock’s attention to detail is wonderful. Notice the way he captures the texture of the mother’s velvet robe with tiny, repetitive marks. The daughter’s dress, on the other hand, is rendered with smoother, more flowing lines, giving it a lighter, more ethereal quality. I like the way the artist plays with opacity and transparency, especially in the mother’s veil. It is only a suggestion of fabric, hinting at the face behind it. I’m reminded of Erté, another fashion illustrator from the same period, but Van Brock has a more intimate, personal touch. Art is always an ongoing conversation, isn’t it? Always with room for interpretation, never fixed.