Dimensions: height 244 mm, width 187 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
George Barbier made this print, Evening Attire, in 1921, I imagine using stencils, for the Gazette du Bon Ton. It's got this dreamy palette of deep reds, blacks, and creams that evoke a night sky full of shimmering stars. I think Barbier was probably deeply invested in the world of fashion and design, and just totally absorbed in the details of the clothing and the overall aesthetic. The black background is overlaid with white dots that look like stars. I think the artist wants us to feel like we are observing a dream. There's a figure in a red cloak and then another, a woman, her black dress reflecting the starry night. It’s like he’s inviting us into this playful dialogue between fashion and fantasy, where clothes aren't just clothes, they’re costumes.
Comments
If the price of the Gazette du Bon Ton was steep, that of the clothes pictured was exorbitant. Evening attire was especially luxurious, consisting chiefly of silk garments decorated with gold and silver thread or expensive fur. Naturally, clothes like these called for costly accessories, which a true lady wore sparingly. An outfit had to work as a whole: all of the details, from headbands to high-heeled shoes, had to fit together. And that, in turn, required money, time, care and, most importantly, bon ton (good taste).
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