Date: 1920s
Size: sheet is 6 x 9.25 inches; matted to 11 x 14 inches
Artist: Gazette du Bon Ton
The Gazette du Bon Ton, put out by the retailer of the same name, was considered the trendsetting magazine of the era. Founded by Lucien Vogel and targeting Paris's upper class, it ran from 1912-1925. Only ten colour plates were printed per issue, and artists vied for the prestige of illustrating the latest Parisian fashion and lifestyle trends. As these pochoirs attest, the high style and iconic femininity made the items featured in the pages "must have's" -- right down to the prayer statue on top of the chest of drawers!
This pochoir - created when single layers of color are added by hand to a lithograph using a stencil - shows a woman in an elegant gown of "organdi transparent," (Engl: transparent organdy), a sheer, crisp cotton prone to wrinkling because of its stiffness. The image's caption highlights the dress's elegant details such as the small-pleated ruffles and the large embroidered wool roses.
The other side of the image has a short essay by Rosine titled "L'Organdi, Roi de l'Été" which highlights how organdy - found in most couturier's collections - is the perfect fabric for summer as its fresh appearance makes for the perfect decor on beaches, in parks, and in gardens.
Double matted in cream and red to 11 x 14 inches, this original pochoir is in excellent condition.