Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1912, Costumes Parisiens, no. 6: Robe à Panier (...) 1912

This fashion plate, "Robe à Panier en Satin café!" by Francisco Javier Gosé, was made in 1912 for the Journal des Dames et des Modes. It feels as though it's made with soft pencils, or maybe even watercolor. The color palette is very muted, dominated by browns and creams. This approach to the piece lends it a gentle, almost dreamy quality. The material aspects, particularly the texture, invite a slow, intimate viewing. The lines are delicate, almost tentative, and there's a softness to the shading that gives the image a three-dimensional feel. The brushwork is subtle, almost invisible, allowing the colors to blend seamlessly into one another. The gentle tones of the dress contrast with the solid black of the dog, drawing your attention to the relationship between the high fashion of the day and its accoutrements. You can see a reference to the work of artists like Manet, and maybe even Degas here. These kinds of images are part of an ongoing conversation, and invite us to look closely and find our own interpretation.