Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 144 1914

This print from the Journal des Dames et des Modes was made in Paris in 1914 by an artist known only as Monogrammist BMB. Its fine lines were created through etching, a printmaking process where acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Notice how the spare lines and the lack of color direct our attention to the cut and drape of the garments. This was the explicit purpose of the Journal, which served as a vital link in the fashion industry, connecting designers, dressmakers, and their wealthy clientele. The print’s linear quality reflects the early twentieth century’s obsession with speed and efficiency, which was transforming artistic and industrial production alike. It is a labor-saving method that still speaks to the skill of the etcher, and the layered social world of design, production, and consumption. Appreciating the work involved in this seemingly simple image allows us to see it not just as a pretty picture, but as an essential document of its time.