Robe du soir.. 1913

Editor: This is "Robe du soir…" created around 1913 by George Barbier, it looks like a print, probably an illustration. The woman's dress, the way she holds the fruit...it all seems so artificial, so staged. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Considering its date, what's fascinating is to think about the materiality and labor behind this image itself, and the dress it depicts. This isn’t just an image; it's a representation of a constructed reality, both in terms of the woman’s attire and its reproduction via printmaking. Editor: What do you mean by constructed reality? Curator: Look at the stylized lines, the repetition of the floral pattern, and the carefully placed highlights. The artist made choices at every stage – from selecting the fabric, to designing the dress, to the labor involved in its physical construction and subsequent reproduction as an image. Each of these layers shapes the final product and, in turn, shapes how the female form is consumed and understood. Does the method of production say something about consumer culture at that time? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. It almost makes you consider the ethical implications of portraying this idealised consumerism. It feels disconnected from reality because, thinking materially, the labor involved is completely invisible in this polished image. Curator: Precisely. We're left only with a beautiful, alluring surface and encouraged to ignore the often exploitative conditions underpinning its creation and circulation. The artwork itself becomes a commodity, participating in the very system it subtly portrays. Editor: So, this image is both an artistic representation and an economic statement? Curator: Absolutely. Examining it through a materialist lens allows us to appreciate the layered meanings embedded in the process, labor, and consumption represented within a decorative and seemingly innocent illustration. It prompts reflection about where we locate value. Editor: That's really insightful; I'll never look at fashion plates the same way again! Thanks.