Très Parisien, 1923, No 9 : 12. - SERIEUSE. - Discrets et harmonieux... 1923

Editor: This watercolor and print, titled "Très Parisien, 1923, No 9: 12. - SERIEUSE. - Discrets et harmonieux…," is an anonymous work from 1923 held at the Rijksmuseum. The fashion illustration feels very poised and…almost austere in its elegance. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a visual representation deeply embedded within the societal shifts of the early 1920s. This wasn't just about fashion; it was about the changing roles of women, particularly within the Parisian context. The "garçonne" style – the androgynous, modern woman – was gaining traction. Does this image align with, or challenge, that established androgyny? Editor: That's a great question. The model doesn't quite have the same overt boyishness, does she? There's still a softness to her pose and the draping of the dress. Curator: Exactly. This work seems to straddle a fascinating line. It acknowledges the newfound freedom in women's fashion – the looser silhouette, the dropped waist – yet retains an element of traditional femininity, particularly in the subtle color palette and elegant ornamentation of her gown. How do you read the model's gaze? Does it convey empowerment, or something else? Editor: Hmm. I initially perceived it as serene, but now I'm wondering if there's a hint of defiance. Like she's calmly asserting her place in this rapidly changing world. Curator: Precisely. And the text included below the image would have been significant for a contemporary audience. Consider what it might have meant to know the garment's source - where and how a modern woman purchased or commissioned a dress of her own in 1923 Paris. These were opportunities to adopt new personal aesthetics, yes, but also a changing role within French economy and commerce. Editor: That's fascinating! I never would have thought about it in so many ways just by looking at it! I'm starting to understand the social nuances expressed through these fashion illustrations. Curator: Indeed. By understanding its context, we uncover deeper narratives about identity, gender, and the visual language of a transformative era.