Falbalas And Fanfreluches 1925

George Barbier, active in Paris in the early twentieth century, created ‘Falbalas and Fanfreluches’ using pochoir, a printing technique that mimics the effect of watercolor. The patterns and colors achieved via pochoir evoke the social rituals of the wealthy. The artist, along with a team of artisans, applied stencils to build up layers of transparent pigment. The process resulted in images of exceptional vibrancy. Note the woman’s dress, its swirling blue and purple hues. The same goes for the falling blossoms above their heads – a perfect evocation of festive atmosphere. Pochoir prints such as these were a luxury commodity. The amount of labor required to create them meant they were costly. This made them highly desirable to a wealthy clientele who could afford to commission them. This image celebrates the exquisite, decorative excess of the early twentieth century, but also the often-unacknowledged handwork that made it possible.