The marriage of Art, Fashion and Interior Designs.

(Homage to Sonia Delaunay 1885- 1979)

It was while I was walking the floors of Le Louvre on glorious Wednesday afternoon (as I would do for four years while studying the Arts in Paris) that I first encountered with Sonia Delaunays work.

Could it be?

Picasso (my favorite!) and Braque with a feminine, softer hand and eye; Cubism with curves, smooth lines replacing strict and geometric ones; Colorful paintings instead of monochrome ones….

Could it be possible?

The softer side of Linear Cubism…

Sonia Delaunay, Russian born, settled in Paris in 1905 and with her husband and artist Robert Delaunay founded the art movement Orphism. [The term was first used by poet and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire to describe Robert Delaunays paintings. It was derived from Greek mythology referring the poet and musician Orpheus.

Apollinaire regarded the colorful Cubist inspired paintings of Delaunay as a new style that brought musical qualities to painting].

During the 1920s, Sonia Delaunay introduced this exact same new notion to the world of high-fashion, transforming textiles into a unique, avant-garde fashion. She also introduced the novel idea of prt–porter clothing.

Her work in modern design included the use of geometric abstraction and the integration of furniture, fabrics, wall coverings and apparel, using bright hues and bold, repeating patterns based in part on the Russian folk art she grew up with.

In 1918, she designed her first costumes for Sergei Diaghilevs famous Ballets Russes in collaboration with her husband.

In 1925, she featured her fashion designs at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Dcoratifs.

She crated unique environments such as a Parisian Boutique. Not only the interior, but also the dresses, accessories and furs sold in it.

In 1964, she was the first living female artist to be exhibited at Le Louvre, and was named officer of the French Legion of Honor in 1975.

She was an extraordinary, prolific and innovative artist. She excelled in fine arts, theatrical, graphic, fashion and interior designs.

Delaunay was truly a woman of many talents and inspirations. She was a vanguard of the modern female artist movement. She had incredible skills and become one of the most respected and acclaimed artist in modern history.

Her work will always remind me of dancing paintings with exploding French Joie de Vivrethe marriage of Art, Fashion and Interior Designs through the eyes of an extraordinary woman. She became my favorite Cubist style artist after that Wednesday afternoon in Le Louvre…

Sorry Pablo!

Catherine Simms is a French born Artist residing in Stamford Connecticut.
She is the artist/designer for

ART A LA CARTE Plaster Works and Decorative Painting and for WHINER AND DINER Hand-painted Dog and Cat Wine Crate Feeders and Beds.

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