L’Heure du rendez-vous ; Manteau d’après-midi, de Paul Poiret 1920

Curator: Looking at this elegant image, titled "L’Heure du rendez-vous; Manteau d’après-midi, de Paul Poiret," a print created around 1920 by Alexandre Jacovleff, I am immediately struck by its depiction of feminine societal rituals during the interwar period. Editor: Yes, I see that immediately. It is all browns and beiges, sepia-toned really, the sort of shades associated with newspapers, heavy wool coats, and dust... almost industrial, though offset by the figure's luxurious wrap. It's all about textiles and time of day. Curator: Indeed, the print evokes a sense of bourgeois leisure even amid what would have been post-war austerity. Poiret was quite influential in fashion at this time; this piece showcases the marketing of an image that transcends the utility of clothing to become a statement. Editor: It's fascinating to think about how garments like this are marketed—an aspiration to join this class, by acquiring the coat in the image. The flat application of watercolor, it strikes me, removes detail; all the emphasis lands on the garment itself and, in a more abstract way, the possibility of meeting for pleasure rather than survival. Curator: I find it interesting how the artist contrasts the precise lines of the dress against the softness of the urban backdrop. Jacovleff certainly plays with shadow and light to elevate the design and create visual hierarchy, don't you think? Editor: Definitely, the backdrop serves almost as a counterpoint to the dress. Look how lightly rendered those figures in the background are, and that lonely brown leaf floating towards the lower-right edge of the frame. There's an argument to be made that even nature participates in this sort of textile consumerism! Curator: Yes, I think you are correct, particularly the implication that luxury can exist even during such a difficult post-war setting. Editor: I agree, and on the whole this work demonstrates the ways images help define desire in rapidly shifting times. Curator: Very insightful analysis that invites an appreciation of historical subtleties through art! Editor: Thank you; seeing this art through the lens of consumption makes me consider all that goes into defining worth beyond merely its appearance.