Papillons ; France XXe siècle 1922

George Barbier made “Papillons” in France during the 20th century, and it's like stepping into a dream. The colors are gentle, almost pastel, and the figures are poised in this lovely, languid scene. I imagine Barbier, with his fine lines and elegant shapes, carefully composing each element, probably going through a few sketches before committing to the final design. The woman reaching out to the butterflies— what’s she thinking? Is she trying to capture something fleeting, like a moment of beauty? Or maybe she just wants to feel the delicate flutter of wings on her fingertips. There’s a kind of longing in that gesture. And the two other figures, draped on the ground; they all seem caught in a reverie, a world of their own. It’s hard not to think of other artists who were also chasing beauty and grace, like Watteau or Fragonard. There's something about the way Barbier uses line and color that feels like a continuation of that conversation. Artists build on what came before, right? Seeing this, I am reminded that painting is an ongoing conversation across time.