This is a hand coloured and plate-signed pochoir from Modes et Manieres d'Aujourd'hui (1914 edition, Plate VIII), which was one of the most exclusive "lifestyle" publications to emerge from Paris (1912 to 1922). Its audience was the very wealthy. Existing copies are quite rare and highly collectible because of an annual edition size of only 300. This edition was entirely illustrated by Barbier, who merges into pure poetry with these two models on the romantic edge of an intensive indigo night. Each image in this famous series is on fine Japan paper, echoing the uncompromising elegance of the period.This pochoir is nearly musical in its swirl of langorous movement and its dramatic richness of colour punctuated by the glint of gold and silver highlights. Barbier had his own artistic language of poetry, of music, as this pochoir shows so brilliantly.
H.10.75in. X W.7.0in.; H.27.3cm. X W.17.8cm. |