Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 96, Shelf D, Box 6

La Chansonnette Parisienne (La Musique)

Colour Lithograph
c.1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a series of eighteen lithographs created in Paris in about 1910 by a French artist who signs himself "Laviny". Their subject matter is of beautiful women dressed in fantastical and extraordinary costumes which represent various aspects of Paris. Whilst the outfits are ultra-fashionable in silhouette, they are very exaggerated and were probably not intended to be made up in real-life, but were made to amuse and for decorative purposes. The lithographs were printed by Fattorini et Crespin of Paris.

La Chansonnette Parisienne represents popular music, as performed in the cabarets and music-halls. Bars of music notation are written all over her form-fitting dress, with individual notes scattered over her stole and an enormous treble clef emblazoned on her hip. Another large treble clef, in gold, is placed upon her enormous ostrich-feather trimmed hat, and the hem of her dress is edged with jingle-bells.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLa Chansonnette Parisienne (La Musique) (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
colour lithograph
Brief description
Laviny. "La Chansonnette Parisienne (La Musique)". Design for a fantasy costume representing an aspect of Paris. Published by Fattorini & Crespin, Paris. c. 1910
Physical description
Colour lithograph showing an attractive woman dressed in an elaborate, exaggerated fancy-dress or theatrical costume representing a neighbourhood or institution of Paris. One of a set of 18.
Credit line
Given by the House of Worth
Object history
This print is part of a very large collection of reference material including fashion plates, engravings, original drawings and illustrations that were collected by the fashion design house of Paquin at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. Many bear the stamp of Paquin's archivist at the time. They were acquired by the V&A in 1957 when, following the closure of the combined houses of Paquin and Worth, the Worth/Paquin archives and design books were donated to the Museum.
Summary
This is one of a series of eighteen lithographs created in Paris in about 1910 by a French artist who signs himself "Laviny". Their subject matter is of beautiful women dressed in fantastical and extraordinary costumes which represent various aspects of Paris. Whilst the outfits are ultra-fashionable in silhouette, they are very exaggerated and were probably not intended to be made up in real-life, but were made to amuse and for decorative purposes. The lithographs were printed by Fattorini et Crespin of Paris.

La Chansonnette Parisienne represents popular music, as performed in the cabarets and music-halls. Bars of music notation are written all over her form-fitting dress, with individual notes scattered over her stole and an enormous treble clef emblazoned on her hip. Another large treble clef, in gold, is placed upon her enormous ostrich-feather trimmed hat, and the hem of her dress is edged with jingle-bells.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1957-1958 London: HMSO, 1964
Collection
Accession number
E.22254-1957

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSON