This illustration depicts a black mannequin wearing a pink dress, portrayed in an intentionally exaggerated and affected pose. The scene serves as a sharp critique of the fashion industry and mannequin shows of the time. Sem describes these models as “strange bodies,” “disjointed mannequins,” or “serpent-like women clad in poisonous outfits,” writhing and convulsing slowly, mimicking a parody of a tango under the gaze of spectators, whom the author calls “unfortunate snobinettes.” The illustration is accompanied by a text condemning the exploitation of mannequins and the superficiality of Parisian fashion. Sem critiques these “fashion Bataclans,” even suggesting the potential use of illicit substances to heighten the allure of the models. With cynicism, he highlights the absence of black mannequins in such shows, a gap he provocatively fills here, exposing the social tensions and excesses of the early 20th-century fashion scene. (C. Evans)