Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 16.-PETITES FLEURS. - Une robe de crêpe Georgette... 1923

This fashion plate, Très Parisien, 1923, by J. Dory, uses ink and graphite to depict two women wearing garments from the Parisian fashion house, KISMETT. I love how the artist captured that in-between state as these dresses shifted and emerged through trial, error, and intuition, and a process of responding to what was already there. I can imagine Dory thinking, "Okay, let's see what happens if I add these flowers here, or play with these stripes". It’s a gentle dance of intention and chance. The artist may have been influenced by other fashion illustrators or by the fabrics and dress styles of the time. Look at the black lines; they feel crisp and precise and evoke a feeling of modern sophistication. I enjoy the tension between intention and accident, control and release.