L’Air 1922 - 1926

George Barbier made this print, titled 'L’Air,' in 1919, and it’s all about catching a mood, not just a scene. The colors are so light, almost like watercolors, but with a crisp line that holds everything together. It’s like he’s trying to pin down a feeling with the simplest marks. Look at how Barbier uses color to set the stage. The light blues and peaches create this airy, dreamlike vibe, but then he throws in these bolder blues and browns to keep it grounded. It’s like a recipe with just a few ingredients, but he gets so much flavor out of them! See the way the tree’s leaves are detailed, but still feel light and airy? It’s this balance that makes the whole print float, like a sigh or a whisper. Barbier reminds me a bit of Erté, another artist who was all about capturing the elegance and style of the time. But where Erté could be all about the glitz and glamour, Barbier always seemed to be searching for something a little deeper, a little more human, in his art.