Très Parisien, 1923, No. 4: 14. - MAY-FLOWER. Rien n'est plus... 1923

This print of a fashion plate, titled "Très Parisien," was made in 1923. The anonymous artist probably used stencils to apply each color one by one, building up a full image of a contemporary woman wearing clothes designed by Rodier. I can almost feel the artist carefully aligning each layer, one delicate stencil after another. It’s a quiet, meticulous act, so different from the sweeping gestures we see in abstract expressionism. The creamy background reminds me of a canvas primed just so. But instead of thick impasto, we get these crisp lines and flat planes of color. It’s a real dance between control and letting the materials do their thing. The way the green pops against the white feels so fresh, so modern. It reminds me of Matisse, the way he used color to create space and movement. Artists are always in conversation, you know? Even across time, we’re all riffing off each other, finding new ways to see the world. This print isn't just about fashion; it's about seeing, and the ongoing possibilities of image-making.