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

G-P. Joumard made this fashion plate, Madrigal, around 1921, probably with ink and gouache on paper. The colours are simple, mostly black and white with some red accents, and the lines are clear and economical, giving us just what we need, and no more. What strikes me most are the red semicircles that run along the bottom of the dress. They're like half-moons or open mouths, each one slightly different, each one imperfect, yet forming a perfect ring when you put them all together. This imperfection reminds me of how, in art, it's often the little mistakes, the unexpected marks, that give a piece its character. The way the artist uses shadow, with those sketchy black marks fanning out from the bottom of the dress, feels very reminiscent of Matisse's paper cut-outs, even though the medium is different. It's like Joumard is playing with flatness and depth, pushing and pulling our eyes across the surface. It shows how artists, through time, are always looking at each other, stealing ideas, and making something new.