Très Parisien, février 1922 : 10.- DINER ÉLÉGANT 1922

Editor: This print, "Trés Parisien, février 1922: 10.- DINER ÉLÉGANT," is an anonymous piece from 1922 held at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts two women in what I assume are fashionable dresses of the time. There's something very poised, yet also kind of static about the composition. I'm curious, what captures your eye in this work? Curator: Oh, absolutely. I get this distinct impression of a bygone era trying to whisper its secrets. You see how the artist, despite anonymity, has captured the essence of Art Deco – that geometric sensibility blended with a soft figuration. Look at the colours – the way they flirt with both bold pronouncements and understated elegance. I imagine a flapper, pearls swinging, the air thick with cigarette smoke and possibilities. Tell me, doesn't it just ooze a very particular mood? Editor: It definitely feels like a snapshot of a specific time. The dress on the left especially with those sleeves – it's so iconic of the era. Curator: Indeed! And consider this was probably intended as a fashion plate in a magazine, a guide to inspire readers. It’s also worth thinking about what isn’t there, that ghostly "anonymous" credit; a shadow, a deliberate absence. Were they shy? Contractually obligated? Is that mystery itself a key? What stories do you imagine for the women? Editor: I never thought about the anonymity like that – it does add another layer to the interpretation. I was mostly focused on the style and the fashion, but you're right, it's like a hidden narrative. Curator: Art's never truly *just* about the surface, is it? Editor: Not at all, I definitely see this in a new light now! Thanks.