L’Oiseau Volage 1914

George Barbier made "L’Oiseau Volage" and it presents such a distinctive approach to form, where the details are clear but there's an odd, dreamlike quality, too. The colors aren't quite natural, are they? A blue bird, peachy leaves, and the way the woman's dress melts into this flat pattern, it's got a whimsical spirit. There's also an echo of Aubrey Beardsley in the long vertical lines and use of decorative elements to create a mood. Look how the birdcage suggests captivity in the lower left and then the woman extends her arm towards the bird. Does she long for freedom, too? It's like the whole image is a stage set, ready for a performance. Ultimately, art is a conversation through time, and Barbier's work reminds me to see the world as a canvas where anything is possible, even a turquoise sky.