Très Parisien, 1923, No 8: 13.- DOUX AUTOMNE. - Cette robe manteau...

Editor: Here we have "Très Parisien, 1923, No 8: 13.- DOUX AUTOMNE. - Cette robe manteau..." currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It's an anonymous drawing – a fashion plate, it seems. I’m struck by the art deco vibe and how effortlessly elegant those outfits are. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Oh, the whimsy! Isn't it like peering into a flapper's dream? What I see is not just clothing but an attitude, a declaration of modernity. The artist captured the post-war exuberance – a loosening of corsets and conventions. Look at the stylized trees, almost geometric; they're less about reality and more about setting a stage for these figures. Makes you wonder about the wearer, doesn’t it? Would she be sipping cocktails in Montmartre or dancing the Charleston? Editor: That’s such a vivid image. I didn't pick up on that tension between nature and geometric shapes. How would the colors be described at that time? They strike me as unusually subdued. Curator: Interesting question! You'd likely hear terms like 'muted jewel tones' or 'dusty pastels.' Think about it – the world had just emerged from the trenches; a complete explosion of color might have felt insensitive. There's a sophistication here, a subtle optimism, don't you think? They look modern even now. Editor: Definitely. It makes me wonder what future fashion plates will look like a hundred years from now! I’m seeing so much more than just pretty dresses now. Thanks! Curator: The pleasure’s all mine. Now go forth and bedazzle someone with your newfound knowledge of flapper fabulousness!