First Dress 

Erté created this pochoir print, entitled First Dress, in France in the early twentieth century. The piece exemplifies Art Deco's fascination with exoticism and theatricality. We see a woman adorned in an elaborate gown, its design incorporating stylized birds, reflected in a body of water. Consider the rise of fashion illustration during this period, as new printing technologies allowed for the wide dissemination of stylish images. Artists like Erté found a ready market for their designs in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar. This print embodies the aspirations of a society recovering from the First World War, eager to embrace luxury and fantasy. Scholars of fashion history have extensively researched the cultural significance of clothing and its representation in visual media. By studying these sources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which this print reflects and shapes the desires of its time. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.