Très Parisien, 1926, No. 1, Pl. 10: Créations Jane REGNY - L'OMBRE VERTE 1926

Curator: I am completely drawn to this image, it gives me such a buoyant feeling, it feels optimistic. It is Très Parisien, 1926, No. 1, Pl. 10: Créations Jane REGNY - L'OMBRE VERTE; made in 1926 by G-P. Joumard, we can find it in the collections of the Rijksmuseum. The medium of pen and drawing also feels surprisingly bold. Editor: Absolutely, there's a vibrant interplay between figuration, style and material evident in this artwork. We need to place this work in its historical moment to grasp the gendered politics inherent in these representations of the "new woman." What is being displayed in the work in relation to consumption and identity in the 1920's? Curator: Whoa there, slow down a moment! Sure, it speaks to consumer culture and emerging identities but look at how Joumard captures that effortless, confident stride. The economy of line! It feels modern, like the paper almost breathes, even if we could debate at length as to what extent those new freedoms extended. Editor: Fair point; the dynamism of the women is compelling, however we need to also contextualise those visual shorthands, to deconstruct assumptions concerning gender. What cultural assumptions is the artist reinforcing even through line and composition, not in the least via its declared Frenchness? Is there a dialogue of gender in this artwork, what exactly does this image want? Curator: Perhaps what's brilliant here is precisely that layered effect you're describing. Joumard delivers an image of both surface and depth. It’s a testament to the enduring allure of this work that we're still parsing out those contradictions almost a century later, still finding new avenues of discussion, maybe in its play of color as much as in the depiction of new fashion? Editor: Exactly, seeing how we continue this work of interpretation allows me to view "Trés Parisien" with new respect; as a cultural artefact, a lens through which we explore enduring, perhaps unanswerable questions of modern femininity, a marker for broader and ongoing conversations. Curator: I couldn't agree more! It seems to become a more meaningful artwork with every added layer we unpack and challenge.