Mme Ida Rubinstein dans “La Dame aux Camélias” 1923

Editor: So, here we have George Barbier's watercolour illustration, "Mme Ida Rubinstein dans 'La Dame aux Camélias'," created in 1923. The portrait evokes such a feeling of classic Hollywood glamour, all clean lines and poised elegance. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Isn't it divine? For me, it whispers tales of a bygone era, of hushed theatres and extravagant gowns. It makes me think about that bridge between theatre and visual arts, the Art Deco period's obsession with transforming celebrities into ethereal icons. It's all so consciously stylised, almost impossibly elegant – and a tiny bit melancholic, don't you think? The stark background is strange too, not quite working for me. What's your reading? Editor: Melancholic, yes! Like a beautiful, slightly faded memory. The detail in the gown, though – the roses and the delicate layers – really holds my attention. And it makes me wonder about the sitter's personality. Do you think the illustration captures something of Ida Rubinstein herself? Curator: A delicious question! Barbier definitely elevates Rubinstein to this otherworldly figure, perhaps playing into her on-stage persona more than depicting her "real" self. The drama is theatrical. Maybe it reveals less about her interiority, and more about her fame, about how the public *wanted* to see her. It asks, what is true and what is presented? Editor: I see! So, the painting is about celebrity more than character. Fascinating. I hadn’t considered that before. Curator: It's like the artist uses the image of the star as a sign. Thinking about what to celebrate and what gets lost in the representation of icons. Editor: Wow, I will look at illustrations in a totally different way from now on!