Arthur Honegger with "King David" 1921

Curator: "Arthur Honegger with 'King David'" painted by Alice Bailly in 1921. A fascinating portrait blending modern aesthetics. What strikes you about it? Editor: My initial reaction is a delightful blend of dapper and dreamlike. It's like stumbling upon a sophisticated silent film character. The palette and cubist influence definitely lend a particular feel; a world seen through prisms of smoky cafes and jazz music. Curator: Indeed. Bailly places Honegger, the composer, within a fractured space – a nod to Cubism. What's compelling is how it captures not just Honegger's likeness, but something of his artistic aura in that period following the premier of 'King David.' The fragmented planes evoke a sense of modernity and musical experimentation, the jazz age colliding with more established forms of musical expression. Editor: Exactly! There’s a musicality to the image itself, don’t you think? Those blocks of colour are almost like chords on a page, echoed on the score printed on his jacket sleeve. And the pipe adds such a layer, doesn’t it, the composer's thought suspended between a draw and the score. How do you view Bailly's artistic place? Curator: Bailly carved a distinctive niche with her colourful Cubist portraits that broke from traditional depictions. This piece serves to underscore modernism's interdisciplinary connections; the dialogue between visual art and music in a rapidly changing world. In displaying Honegger and referencing his success with King David, she legitimizes a new avant-garde culture taking hold in Swiss society. Editor: Yes! And beyond the social-historical framing, I'm drawn to how this resonates on a more personal, playful level. The fractured forms feel celebratory, as though honouring not just Honegger, but the creative spirit itself. The pipe is the exclamation point. Curator: Ultimately, I appreciate how the painting exemplifies the burgeoning confidence in modern art, presenting itself as an active shaper of cultural narratives. Editor: For me, it’s a quiet invitation, the ghost of a song that still makes you want to invent new colours and new chords. A creative spark for generations.