Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Mai 1931, No. 129, 11e Année, p. 7 1931

This fashion plate, published in Paris in 1931, demonstrates the artistry of commercial illustration. Likely using a combination of drawing and stenciling processes, the artist R. Drivon, captures the era’s ideal of feminine elegance. What strikes me is the materiality of the print. It's not just about the designs, but the very paper it's printed on. The smooth, refined surface speaks to a culture of luxury and attention to detail. The production of such images involved skilled labor, from the illustrators to the printers, embodying a complex relationship between art, industry, and consumption. Consider the social context: these images were aimed at an affluent readership, dictating trends and shaping desires. Yet, behind the allure of fashion lies a vast network of labor, from textile production to garment manufacturing. By examining the material and processes, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic forces at play in the world of fashion.