Très Parisien, 1925, No. 1, Pl. 16.- MONTE CARLO. 1925

This fashion plate, *Très Parisien* - Monte Carlo, was made in 1925 by G-P. Joumard. I love how this image lives on the page, like a fugitive moment pinned down in ink. I imagine Joumard, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked. How was he thinking about fashion? Was he using the ink like watercolour, letting it bleed softly to achieve a muted palette? It’s there in the pale creams and greens, mauves, and dusty pinks. I see an echo of cubism, but softened; more playful. I wonder about his choices - the flat planes and sharp angles giving way to the curve of the figure. Or the way he renders the geometric patterns of the dress. I see a conversation happening between different approaches to painting: how do we capture reality? How can we simplify it? It reminds me of other artists trying to distill form to its essence, like Stuart Davis or even Sonia Delaunay.