Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Mai 1931, No. 129, 11e Année, p. 12 1931

R. Drivon made this fashion plate in 1931, most likely with gouache and ink on paper. It’s so cool how Drivon uses these pale, almost translucent washes to depict the clothes. You get a sense of the material, how it drapes and folds, almost like you could reach out and touch it. I love the way the colors are so muted, almost faded, which gives the whole thing a dreamy, nostalgic feel. And the lines are so delicate and precise, they define the shapes and forms of the garments, but also add a sense of elegance and refinement. See how each figure is given a distinctive outfit and pose, yet all are unified by a narrow color palette? Look at the figure in the lower center, the way the checks of the cropped jacket are echoed in the design of the orange dress and trousers behind. I feel this is so smart, because it shows the relationship between the cut and the overall composition. This image reminds me of the work of Erte, another fashion illustrator from the same period, but with a more Art Deco sensibility. Both artists were interested in capturing the essence of style and beauty, but each had their own unique way of doing it, showing that art is an ongoing conversation between artists and across generations.