Gazette du Bon Ton. Art – Modes & Frivolités: Evening Attire 1921

This print of evening attire, made by George Barbier in 1921, has a touch of theatre about it, with its carefully posed figures and theatrical lighting. What strikes me about this image is how Barbier uses line and colour to create depth and texture. The stripes on the woman's coat, for instance, aren't just decorative; they create a sense of movement and form. They feel almost sculptural. The way the colours are layered, with the soft blues and greys contrasting with the pops of colour in the background, creates a kind of visual harmony, and it's worth noticing how he uses the black ink to describe the contours of the garments. There's an echo of Aubrey Beardsley in Barbier's work, but with a lighter touch. Like Beardsley, Barbier embraces artifice and decoration, but there's a playful quality to his images that feels very much of its time. Art Deco was such a fantastic movement, all about dressing up and going out, and this artwork really captures that moment.