Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1912, No. 18 : Veste de velours (...) 1912

Fernand Siméon made this print in 1912 for a fashion magazine, and I can imagine him getting really into the details here. Look at those stripes, how they hug the figure, and then the little hearts fluttering all over her dress. I get the sense he's riffing off the Fauves and their wild colors, like Matisse or Derain, but with a playful, commercial twist. There's a real energy in the way he lays down the color, those blacks, yellows and blues feel bold. And the way he contrasts the textures – the smooth dress against the fuzzy hat – it’s really clever! You can tell he's thought about how the shapes interact, the way the umbrella echoes the curve of her arm. It's like he's saying, "Fashion can be fun, too!" Artists are always having this conversation, across time, trying to bring feeling into things, and make us see the world a little differently.