Dior's iconic evening coat famously worn by Princess Grace de Monaco and two Dior trench coats.
Ink wash fashion drawing by Marcil.
MAD, Palais du Louvre, Paris.
Les Collections Nationales de France.
All rights reserved.
Les Collections Nationales de France.
All rights reserved.
MARCIL @ the LOUVRE
Mr. Olivier Gabet, Director of the Art Department of the Louvre Museum, writes :
In February 12, 1947, Dior launched the New Look and aimed to redefine femininity. The big question discussed then by the Paris fashion community was :
"These drawings, very representative of the style instigated by Tom Keogh at Vogue, also provide an example for the history of fashion illustration from the late 1940s to the early 1960s."
(free translation)
In February 12, 1947, Dior launched the New Look and aimed to redefine femininity. The big question discussed then by the Paris fashion community was :
"Will Parisian Haute Couture ever recover and handle the rising competition from London and New York as global fashion centers."
Harper’s Bazaar editor, Carmel Snow, who coined the term New Look, declared : "Dior saved Paris as Paris was saved in the Battle of the Marne."
Marcil played an important role in the post-war launch of Dior's New Look collection in the US market, particularly in NYC.
As echoed in the following excerpts from MAD, Palais du Louvre's 2018 Annual Report pages 32 and 93:
" (...) these drawings – expressive and refined sketches – enable one to appreciate the dissemination of fashion trends in the media and the history of fashion illustration style."
(free translation)
Dior Bar suit,
the New Look's signature design,
modeled by Audrey, Marcil's muse.
Ink drawing on paper, New York, 1947.
MAD, Palais du Louvre, Paris.
Les Collections Nationales de France.
All rights reserved.
"(... ) Nine drawings by the Canadian artist, René Marcil, complete the important set of fashion drawings with examples of reinterpretation of the models of the designer's collection for large department stores' advertising purposes around 1950, an aspect that was lacking until now in the museum's collection." (free translation)
More images of artwork from the Neoplasticism & Abstract painting period; the Neo-expressionism period as well as Fashion illustrations are posted at https://www.wikiart.org/en/rene-marcil
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