Gazette du Bon Ton, 1920 - No. 8, Pl. 58: "Jamais prêtes!" / ou / Le premier acte sacrifie / Robes de chez soi, de Becker et fils 1920

Charles Martin made this print called "Jamais prêtes!" sometime around 1920 for the Gazette du Bon Ton, probably using a technique like pochoir to get those flat, saturated colors. I can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, carefully outlining each figure and detail with a steady line. It's got a real stylized flatness to it, with a limited palette of purples, pinks, and browns against a cream background. I wonder if Martin ever found himself stuck in a similar situation, waiting impatiently while someone primped and preened. It's a scene that's both humorous and relatable, capturing the timeless struggle between the desire for perfection and the constraints of time. You know, this piece reminds me of some of Erté's fashion illustrations, but with a bit more of an edge. Artists are always in conversation with one another, picking up ideas and riffing on them in their own way. Painting is a form of expression, and it's up to us to bring our own experiences and perspectives to the table.