Gazette du Bon Ton, 1920 - No. 7, Pl. 54: Les deux soeurs / Manteau et robe pour le soir, de Beer 1920

Mario Simon made this print titled 'Les deux soeurs' in 1920 for the Gazette du Bon Ton, likely using stencils and pochoir. The flat areas of colour suggest a printing process, where the image is built up in layers. It reminds us that artmaking is as much about method as it is about personal expression. The colours are muted, elegant. That big green coat! It's so striking against the pale backdrop. Look at the way the colour defines its shape – it's graphic, bold. But the slightly mottled effect of the green stops the shape from being too hard. It's softened, somehow, like chalk. The way the lines are used to give a sense of fabric, the fall and fold of the textile, gives it depth. I keep thinking of Manet looking at this. The whole image has a lightness and sophistication that speaks to a particular moment in art history. It feels contemporary and relevant, a dialogue that spans across time.