Petit manteau de velours 1914

George Barbier’s drawing, Petit manteau de velours, made in 1914, is rendered in simple black lines, full of clarity and grace. It imagines a fashionable woman with a velvety cloak, standing in a garden, reaching out to touch a butterfly. I can almost feel the artist’s hand as he sketched this image. I imagine he might have been thinking about the changing styles of the time, the evolving roles of women, and the fleeting beauty of nature. What does it mean to capture a moment? What does it mean to be elegant? The contrasting black and white lines create a striking visual effect and the composition draws the eye toward the figure, highlighting the details of her dress and cloak. Barbier's style is reminiscent of other artists working in the Art Deco movement, but it is distinctive for its attention to line and detail. Each artist picks up where another leaves off, adding their own unique touch to the ongoing conversation. Petit manteau de velours serves as an invitation to appreciate the beauty of a simple line and the power of a well-composed image.