Psyché ; Robe du soir, de Worth 1921

George Barbier made this print called ‘Psyché ; Robe du soir, de Worth’ with some kind of printmaking process, though I don’t know exactly which one! I can only imagine what it must have been like for Barbier to create this image. It feels like I am in his studio, looking over his shoulder. He’s playing with line and block colour. The colour palette is so dreamy, subtle blues, greys, and creams. The scene has a romantic feel. I imagine he was thinking of a classical Greek landscape when he made it. It's as if he wanted to capture the essence of a dream, where a woman is holding a lamp with a gentle light, her dress flowing softly as if in a gentle breeze. You can see how the artist uses the colour to guide you through the image, creating a sense of depth. It's easy to see how this print fits into Barbier's wider body of work. His Art Deco style emphasizes elegance and sophistication. This artist's conversation across time inspires creativity.