Très Parisien, 1923, No 11: 11.- RÉFLEXION. - Très jolie cette robe... 1923

Curator: Right now, we’re looking at a print titled *Très Parisien, 1923, No 11: 11.- RÉFLEXION. - Très jolie cette robe…*. It's an anonymous work from 1923 in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, combining techniques like pen, pastel, and watercolor to capture a slice of Parisian life. Editor: It’s delightful! Whimsical and yet sharply elegant, a true encapsulation of Jazz Age flair. There's a kind of wry, understated humor in the figures—the slightly elongated proportions, the almost geometric styling. It’s very playful. Curator: Absolutely. These fashion plates, popular at the time, played a key role in disseminating style trends and constructing the very image of the modern woman. Note how the figures are positioned—less like portraits and more like embodiments of the latest trends, functioning as tools to express themselves socially. Editor: Yes, almost like paper dolls brought to life. There’s this palpable tension between art and commerce. And look at those colors! The muted earthiness juxtaposed with bursts of almost gaudy detail… It's not afraid to be a little bit "too much". It understands fashion as performance. Curator: That duality—the commercial function balanced against artistic expression—really defines this type of graphic art. It reflects a period where art and design were becoming increasingly intertwined with industry and mass culture. The intention here goes beyond mere visual pleasure and towards crafting a distinct, and desirable, social identity. Editor: In today's world of Instagram influencers and curated aesthetics, I feel strangely akin to these Jazz Age ladies. Perhaps there is something eternally fashionable about yearning and playfully reflecting on our self image, while, secretly, admiring a killer dress. Curator: Well, it's a beautiful intersection, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I would.