Toujours Chic Les Tailleurs et Les Manteaux, Hiver 1921-1922: Marsala 1921 - 1922

Curator: Let's pause here for a moment and take a closer look at "Toujours Chic Les Tailleurs et Les Manteaux, Hiver 1921-1922: Marsala" by G-P. Joumard, created sometime between 1921 and 1922. This work, currently held at the Rijksmuseum, is a vibrant example of decorative art executed with pen on paper, capturing the spirit of Art Nouveau in a single, striking image. Editor: My first impression? Chic indeed! The color palette is surprisingly modern and striking, that arresting black and almost bloody red create a fantastic bold impression, even in what's essentially a simple line drawing. Curator: It's interesting how Joumard employs such delicate linework to portray this vision of fashionable elegance. Note the intentional structure. The recurring geometrical form draws one in: not a dress, rather architecture of decorative intent. It suggests careful precision and an economy of means – perfect for the age! Editor: Right, this reminds me, bizarrely, of peering through some crazy geometrical window at this glamorous flapper. I also cannot ignore the sense of melancholy! Look at her, the odd beret-like hat atop her head with what appears to be silver strands waving from under the headpiece. Her hand is resting on a white and somewhat naked chair, as she glances to our right—her head tilted in sorrow. Curator: I think you’ve really touched on something key: the psychological element. This is not merely a representation of stylish attire, it is something else entirely. But maybe it is too romantic to imply grief as its centerpiece. It speaks more broadly to societal tensions simmering under all the jazz and style. And after all, consider what this artist chooses to portray – not unadorned bodies but draped subjects—it is only reasonable to believe she felt somewhat restrained or wanted to hide within the dress. Editor: Restrained indeed, the outfit smothers any potential eroticism—with its severe patterns of lines, cuts and adornments. I suppose after so much devastation throughout World War I, people like the artist might well express hope or express the dire state. Yet one cannot help but wonder, if the dress is in control. Curator: Ultimately, Joumard's piece captures a fleeting moment. The beauty is less for being seen than something the artwork may reveal only in time! Editor: It's true. "Marsala" invites a layered interpretation, its blend of formality and something deeper reveals a truly distinctive vision, an emotional current. The more I look at the image, the more I imagine myself at the time period: looking at this image for hours, day in and day out.