Art - Goût - Beauté, Feuillets de l' élégance féminine, Juin 1932, No. 142, 12e Année, p. 17 1932

Editor: This print from 1932, "Art - Goût - Beauté", showcases women's fashion, seemingly from an elegance magazine. There's a delightful stillness to it, yet the patterns and colours pop, making it feel both classic and modern. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Art Deco era was fascinated with conveying the modernity of women's status, and this drawing captures that ambition perfectly. It is interesting how the dresses are less about function, and more about a bold representation. What do you think the cactus plants framing the characters could symbolise? Editor: Hmmm, perhaps a link to exotic travels? Or even resilience and adaptability, something associated with the modern woman? Curator: Indeed! Cacti, symbols of endurance and also emblems of the 'New World', bring in an element of the adventurous spirit, but it's fascinating how even in a commercial illustration such as this, there is still symbolism deeply rooted within the fashion on display. Editor: I never considered fashion plates could be so rich with cultural context. Thanks, this insight makes me appreciate this artwork even more. Curator: It highlights the continuous exchange between art and cultural values, which enriches even the most seemingly simple images.