Très Parisien, 1923, No 8: 7.- WANG-TAÏ. - Ce damassé de soie... 1923

This fashion plate, *Très Parisien*, was made in 1923 by an anonymous artist. It probably began with a pencil sketch, later refined with ink, and punctuated with pale color. The artist has really nailed that early 20s shape, all straight lines! I wonder if the artist was thinking about Cubism when they made it? There's a flatness to the image, a simplification of form, that makes me think of Picasso or Braque. But there's also something very delicate and feminine about the drawing, with its soft colors and floral motifs. I like the way they rendered the rose design on the dress. It’s so simple, just a few strokes of color, but it perfectly captures the essence of a flower. Painters are always looking at each other, borrowing ideas, and pushing boundaries. I like to think that, even across time, we're all in conversation, influencing each other's work in ways we don't even realize. Painting is an ongoing exchange, a shared language of marks and colors that connects us all.