La Danse 1914

Curator: Oh, look at this vibrant piece! This is "La Danse," a mixed-media drawing and print made around 1914 by George Barbier. Editor: My first impression is that it’s delightfully decadent. The colours, the setting, even the figures feel designed to elicit pleasure and convey wealth and social harmony. Curator: Absolutely. Barbier was a key figure in the Art Nouveau and later Art Deco movements. "La Danse," showcases a scene reminiscent of the pre-war elite. I see it as an idealization of leisure before the looming disruptions of the First World War. Editor: Focusing on the process, look at the layered materials—the flat planes of colour, combined with fine line work suggesting texture in fabrics. These fashionable figures clearly demonstrate high levels of craft—from the making of their garments to the application of ink on paper. This elevates something seemingly superficial like fashion into a form of skilled production, and cultural symbolism. Curator: That’s interesting, looking closer I can't help but notice how the figures almost blend in with their surroundings. The pattern on the wall becomes an extension of their clothing, perhaps illustrating that, for these characters, their environment is part of their identity. Do you notice how all of them seems to be disconnected? They aren't looking at each other at all. Editor: A poignant point! These are characters whose lives rely on consumption—be it of berries, wine, fabric, or experience. And this consumption supports various industries and classes. What do you mean by disconnected? Curator: Perhaps physically present, yet emotionally remote, within a staged scene reflecting a kind of emotional void. Editor: Yes. We’ve certainly picked up on multiple ways to view Barbier's piece today. This work brings a sense of the fin-de-siecle mentality and its material reflections on fashion and environment.