Très Parisien, 1927, No. 9 : 14.- PAGODE.- Robe du soir (...) 1927

Editor: Here we have "Très Parisien, 1927, No. 9 : 14.- PAGODE.- Robe du soir (...)" which seems to be a print from 1927, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It's so evocative of the Art Deco period, capturing the elegance and modernism of the era. What strikes me most is the detailed rendering of the dresses. How do you read this image? Curator: I see a clear illustration of the burgeoning fashion industry's impact on print media and visual culture. Consider the materials – paper, ink, and the technologies used for reproduction. The mass production of images like this democratized access to fashion trends, influencing not just the wealthy but also the rising middle class. Editor: So, it's less about the artistry of the image itself and more about its role in the consumer culture? Curator: Exactly! Look at the details. The choice of depicting dresses made of specific fabrics like velvet and lamé points directly to the textile industry, which itself relied on complex labor systems and global trade networks. We can also consider the impact of mechanization on textile production at that time. Editor: Interesting. I was so focused on the aesthetics; I didn't think about how it connects to industry. Curator: The Art Deco style isn't merely decorative; it reflects a desire for streamlined efficiency in production. How the print would have been received by its target audience is equally as significant to how it's viewed today, which also needs considering. Editor: It's fascinating how much context is embedded within this seemingly simple fashion plate! Thank you, that makes me rethink the labor and making behind everything that we call "art." Curator: And how mass production influenced art in ways that we still observe. The line between commercial production and artistic production is less defined than we might assume.