Très Parisien, 1923, No. 3: Tissus JERSERIS...FRIENDSHIP... 1923

This fashion plate, ‘Très Parisien, 1923’ was made in 1923 by an anonymous artist. Its light washes of colour and delicate mark making have a relaxed quality. The artist has paid close attention to detail. The patterns are made from layers of thin, cross hatching lines. These create optical illusions which play with the viewer’s eye. The colour palette is minimal, mostly shades of blue. Look closely at the dress on the right, it’s like the artist has subtly shifted the linear pattern, to catch the changing play of light. The whole thing has a provisional feel, like a study or sketch. The artist’s open approach chimes with that of Manet, another artist who embraced the unfinished. Of course, this is just one way of seeing it. The work’s openess offers space for many different interpretations.