Très Parisien, 1923, No. 2: Tissus de J. MEURICE & CIE...Au soliel 1923

This fashion plate, Très Parisien, No. 2, was made around 1923, and it uses lithography to present the textiles of J. Meurice & Cie. The print reminds me of when I’m working on a painting and I start by laying down some quick marks, some gestures that just feel right, and then I keep building on those, responding to what's already there. It’s like the way this plate uses simple lines and flat colors to evoke the textures and patterns of the dress fabric. Take a look at the dress. The texture is created with a combination of tiny squiggles and swirls. It’s a kind of visual shorthand, suggesting the richness of the fabric without getting bogged down in detail. It feels spontaneous and improvisational, like the artist was making it up as they went along. Think of the process of art making like a conversation. For me, this print speaks to the ongoing dialogue between art and fashion, between representation and abstraction, between intention and accident. And who does this make me think of? Sonia Delaunay!