• About
  • Contact

The Fashionéaste

~ For lovers of fashion in film

The Fashionéaste

Category Archives: 1880’s

Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement

16 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by Angie in 1880's, stuff to see

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Edgar Degas, Royal Academy of Arts London

If you’re in London (you lucky doggie) before December 11th, you can catch this exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts, which consists of paintings, and sculptures by Degas, and photographs and films by him and his contemporaries.  Photos and film were the cutting edge of technology and Degas was right there, using them to enhance his work.

I love dancers and love his work because of how he captures moments.  It’s funny that he’s now seen as a very popular, warm, fuzzy impressionist, but he was radical in his time.  He was obsessed with capturing the human body in motion.

Edweard Muybridge, 'Woman dancing (Fancy)', plate 187 of Animal Locomotion,, 1884-86, Collotype on white wove paper, 18.4 x 41.7 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London. Image © Royal Academy of Arts, London / Prudence Cuming

You have to remember that before photography, the only way you’d have a picture of someone or yourself was if it was painted.  When photography (new technology) became available, people adopted it for their own uses immediately, much like our own age.  Below is a Carte de Visite.  It’s a thin photograph mounted on thicker card stock and you’d give it out to friends and visitors.  Having your own photograph must have been thrilling.  People started trading cards with each other.  It was so popular that you used to display all your friends cards and try to buy celebrity cards.  Meet the great-great-grandma of Facebook.

The skirt is divine. 'Portrait of Marie Sanlaville in Costume for Don Juan', c. 1866–70, Carte de visite, 10.3 x 6.2 cm. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. Bibliothèquemusée de l’Opéra. Image © Bibliothèque nationale de France.

So I pretty much gasped when I saw this photo.  It’s so evocative.  It’s like the image itself is projecting through time from the 19th century.  I could see this inspiring photo shoots, cinematographers, and designers.

Edgar Degas, 'Dancer Adjusting her Shoulder Strap', c. 1895-6, Modern print from gelatin dry plate negative. 180 x 130 mm. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. Image © Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Here’s a short video:

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/degas/

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 362 other followers

Follow Me on Pinterest

CATEGORIES

Blogroll

  • Asian Fail
  • Decor8
  • Design Love Fest
  • FIDM, Los Angeles, Museum
  • Garance Dore
  • The Business
  • The Satorialist
  • The Treatment

FAVES, no particular order

Directed by James Ivory, Costume Design Jenny Beavan, 1985

Directed by Jack Clayton, Costume Design Theoni V. Aldredge, 1974

Directed by Sally Potter, Costume Design Sandy Powell, 1992

Direct by Arthur Penn, Costume Design Theadora Van Runkle, 1967

Directed by Iain Softley, Costume Design Sandy Powell, 1997

Directed by Wong Kar Wai, Costume Design William Chang, 2000

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Costume Design Mark Bridges, 2007

Directed by Cary Joji Fukanaga, Costume Design Michael O'Connor 2011

Archives

Be cool:

Comments deemed inappropriate including general spam, self-promotional spam, rude language and offensive comments will not be published and will be deleted.

Please ID the source material if pinning from this blog, either The Fashioneaste (if copying my text) or the film's director/costume designer/cinematographer, whoever is responsible for the image.

Featuring

50's 1960's Paris Adriano Goldman Alexander McQueen American Cinematheque AN AMERICAN IN PARIS Andrei Tarkovsky Anna Karina Ann Demeulemeester A Room with a View (film) Bob Gruen Bonjour Tristesse Brigitte Bardot Carey Mulligan Cary Fukunaga Catherine Deneuve Charles Eames Charlotte Rampling Christopher Doyle collars Costume Designer cuffs Daniel Day Lewis Dario Marianelli David Fincher Dracula Edwardian Elizabeth Taylor Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Faye Wong Film noir Francis Ford Coppola Google Google Search Helena Bonham Carter Helmut Lang Ismail Merchant Jack Palance James Ivory Jane Eyre Jean-Luc Godard Jean-Paul Gaultier Jean Seberg Jenny Beavan Judi Dench Julian Sands Keira Knightley Los Angeles County Museum of Art Maggie Smith Mark Bridges Merchant Ivory Productions Paul Newman Public Broadcasting Service Ray Eames Robert Redford Rock music Rock Stars Rodarte Sacrifice Sandy Powell Saul Bass Search Engines Searching Tarkovsky The Hunger Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Tony Scott Turner Classic Movies Film Festival Twitter Valentino Vogue Weegee William Chang Won Kar Wai Yves Saint Laurent
Copyright The Fashionéaste © 2011-2015. All rights reserved.

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
    %d bloggers like this: