Toujours Chic Les Robes, Hiver 1921-1922: Naiade 1921 - 1922

This pochoir fashion plate titled 'Naiade', was made in 1921 or 1922 by G-P. Joumard. Observe the dress adorned with circular motifs, ruby red and snow white against a field of sage green; the fruit, like ripe cherries scattered on the fabric, evokes the sensual abundance and fecundity of classical imagery. The Naiads, nymphs of Greek mythology, were believed to be guardians of springs, rivers, and wells. Consider how these symbols recur through time. This dress calls to mind Botticelli's Venus, goddess of love and beauty emerging from the sea; her attire, like that of this modern Naiad, signifies fertility and renewal. The circular motif we see in the dress can be seen in many other places, referencing the cycles of nature and eternal return. Even today, these symbols echo in our collective unconscious, carrying the emotional weight of generations.