Modes et Manières d'Aujourd'hui, 1922, Pl. 10 : L'Attentat 1922 - 1923

Fernand Siméon made this print, titled L’Attentat, in 1922 using an engraving technique. I find myself drawn to the textural feel, the way the lines create a pattern in themselves. It’s all in the mark-making, you know? The scene is frozen, like a still from an old movie. The texture is very prominent, a cross-hatching that evokes both a sense of dread and fashion. The way the lines carve out the figures—especially the woman in her checkerboard coat—gives everything a tactile quality. You can almost feel the plushness of the seats. The dog is such a great detail, like a footnote. The artist captures this frozen moment, making us pause to consider the action. Siméon’s work reminds me a bit of Otto Dix, with its satirical edge. This print feels like a conversation starter, an ongoing dialogue about how we see and interpret the world around us.