Evening Attire.. 1923

George Barbier made this gouache on paper sometime in the early twentieth century. The illustration feels like a study in contrasts, the man’s stark tuxedo against the woman's elaborate fur-trimmed gown. Look at that gown - the painterly pattern seems to blossom with a life of its own, a loose rendering of shapes and colors that brings a tactile sense to the figure. The dark inky blues against the warm reds and greens are so vibrant and alive! The flat planes of color and the stylized figures remind me of other artists like Erté, or even a bit of Matisse. The work embraces a sense of style and decoration. It's all about capturing a mood and an era, rather than aiming for a perfect representation. The illustration is like a conversation, a mix of the old and the new, where the artist's personal touch makes it all come alive.