Très Parisien, février 1922: 14.- FLEURETTE 1922

Editor: This is "Très Parisien, février 1922: 14.- FLEURETTE" from 1922, an anonymous drawing here at the Rijksmuseum. I find the subject's stylised look so interesting...almost theatrical in a way, don’t you think? How do you interpret this work? Curator: Theatrical, yes! It's like a perfectly poised breath, capturing a specific moment in time. This was the roaring twenties, and we are squarely in the world of Art Deco – that streamlined, jazzy sensibility. Think of it not just as a drawing, but a symbol of modern elegance, printed in fashion magazines. The shapes, the color palette -- they speak volumes. How do you see the interaction between those rigid vertical lines and the softer, more organic floral motifs? Editor: I didn't immediately register the interplay, but now that you mention it...The vertical lines give the impression of movement, yet the florals create an overall gentler vibe? Curator: Precisely! There's this fascinating tension, like the push and pull between tradition and modernity that defined the era. And consider that this image, intended for a magazine, offered ordinary people glimpses into a world of glamour, suggesting new identities. Can't you imagine dreaming up this version of yourself? Editor: Absolutely. It’s aspirational. I see the cultural and aesthetic influences on full display, the dreams woven into simple ink and paper. Curator: And in that shared experience of admiration and perhaps a touch of longing, there exists a connection that transcends time. Each line, a tiny portal to another era, a different life. I'll never see this image the same way again.