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Bruxelles

Fashion Design
mid 1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This dramatic design shows a theatre costume, designed either for ballet or opera. While it closely resembles an evening dress of the period, the calf-length lace overskirt would have been considered far too short to be acceptable outside a theatrical context. It could also have been specially designed for a fancy dress ball. It would not be until the First World War that fashionable women's skirts rose significantly above ankle length.The gold-embroidered net lace and deep pink silk with blue silk cape and gold-laced sandals show the vibrant colours inspired by the Ballets Russes that were popular at the time.

The pencil inscription 'Bruxelles' is found in the top right hand corner of the design. A number of Paquin designs from this period have either Bruxelles (for Brussels) which may indicate that they were created specially for clients in Belgium, or intended to be exhibited in Brussels.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBruxelles (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
pen and ink and watercolour
Brief description
Jeanne Paquin, Summer 1910. 'Bruxelles.' Design for a theatre costume, short calf-length dress in gold-embroidered net lace and deep pink silk with blue silk cape, gold-laced sandals.
Probably for a presentation in Brussels as several assorted dresses from this year are titled 'Bruxelles.'
1 of 92 designs for Été 1910 bound in volumes.
Physical description
'Bruxelles.' Design for a theatre costume, short calf-length dress in gold-embroidered net lace and deep pink silk with blue silk cape, gold-laced sandals.
1 of 92 dress designs for Summer 1910 bound in volumes.
Credit line
Given by the House of Worth
Summary
This dramatic design shows a theatre costume, designed either for ballet or opera. While it closely resembles an evening dress of the period, the calf-length lace overskirt would have been considered far too short to be acceptable outside a theatrical context. It could also have been specially designed for a fancy dress ball. It would not be until the First World War that fashionable women's skirts rose significantly above ankle length.The gold-embroidered net lace and deep pink silk with blue silk cape and gold-laced sandals show the vibrant colours inspired by the Ballets Russes that were popular at the time.

The pencil inscription 'Bruxelles' is found in the top right hand corner of the design. A number of Paquin designs from this period have either Bruxelles (for Brussels) which may indicate that they were created specially for clients in Belgium, or intended to be exhibited in Brussels.
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.1972-1957

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Record createdApril 28, 2008
Record URL
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