Le Jour et la Nuit 1922

George Barbier conjured "Le Jour et la Nuit," a paper dreamscape that feels like it emerged from a reverie. I'm wondering what Barbier was thinking, playing with contrasts like this - the stark white dress versus the shadowy gown. What a moment that must have been, hovering over the surface, building the composition stroke by stroke! It's all in the way the ink is applied, the delicate balance between control and chance. The floral filigree that forms the background is reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley. Did Barbier know his work? There’s a dance between control and accident, and the painting is the artifact of that encounter. "Le Jour et la Nuit" is a reminder that artists, like dancers, are in constant dialogue across time, borrowing and building upon one another's visions.