From the exhibition
Adieu! Manteau du Soir, de Worth
· 1921

This hand-colored stencil print by George Barbier presents a fashionable woman in an elaborate evening cape by the couturier Worth, set against an Art Deco ballroom. The figure's geometric patterning, elongated proportions, and stylized features typify the Jazz Age aesthetic of *Gazette du Bon Ton*, a luxury fashion journal that merged fine printmaking with commercial style reportage. Rather than political satire, this work belongs to the broader tradition of fashion illustration and social commentary through dress—a lineage extending from 18th-century caricature to modern graphic journalism. The servant and architectural backdrop situate luxury within the domestic setting, while the woman's commanding pose and exotic styling reflect 1920s fashion aesthetics.
Public domain, restored and presented by comicbooks.com http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/