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L'Opéra

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.

This plate represents the Paris Opera. The model is shown in a pale pink dress edged with laurel wreath design around the neckline, worn with a blue stole with a Greek key border and tassels. Although the dress follows the fashionable corseted silhouette of the early 20th century, it is based upon neo-classical draperies associated with ancient Greek statues and artwork. The dress features long hanging sleeves and a deep flounce to the skirt of sheer chiffon, revealing the model's lower legs in a way which would have been considered extremely racy at the time. A theatrical mask based upon a classical Greek design is attached to her shoulder, and her elaborate headdress features a golden lyre, branches of blossom, and two bird's wings.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleL'Opéra (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
colour lithograph
Brief description
Laviny. "L'Opéra". 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.

This plate represents the Paris Opera. The model is shown in a pale pink dress edged with laurel wreath design around the neckline, worn with a blue stole with a Greek key border and tassels. Although the dress follows the fashionable corseted silhouette of the early 20th century, it is based upon neo-classical draperies associated with ancient Greek statues and artwork. The dress features long hanging sleeves and a deep flounce to the skirt of sheer chiffon, revealing the model's lower legs in a way which would have been considered extremely racy at the time. A theatrical mask based upon a classical Greek design is attached to her shoulder, and her elaborate headdress features a golden lyre, branches of blossom, and two bird's wings.
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.22251-1957

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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