Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 144 : Un Incroyable et une Cantinière 1914

This is 'Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 144 : Un Incroyable et une Cantinière' made by Monogrammist BMB, and printed on a page as part of a set of fashion plates. I can imagine the artist thinking about ways to play with pattern here, contrasting the vertical lines in the background with the horizontal lines on the man’s shirt. I see the artist has used gentle colours, which suggests the artist wants to evoke a calming mood and a sense of refined taste. The colour palette – gentle blues, beiges, browns and yellows – gives the image a soft and delicate feel. The woman’s raised arm is a particularly charming gesture, suggesting both movement and freedom, and creates a flow of movement, counterbalancing the more static figure of the man. Looking at the composition, I am reminded of the work of other artists, such as the painter Sonia Delaunay who also had a strong interest in the relationship between art and fashion. Fashion plates like these are part of an ongoing conversation about aesthetics and culture. The beauty of art lies in its ability to invite multiple perspectives and interpretations.