Lot Essay
When Raoul Dufy first met the designer Paul Poiret in 1910, Poiret was "the most established of the leading creators of twentieth-century fashion. His daring innovations had radically transformed the female silhouette. He had abandaoned the corset for the brassiere, freed the waist and brought in a fluid style of dress inspired by the French directoire and Oriental style. In particular he had replaced the subdued colours of the fin de siècle with brilliant hues...An ambassoador of fashion, he imposed Parisian elegance on Europe and the United States." (D. Perez-Tibi, Dufy, New York, 1989, p. 66)
In 1910 Poiret commissioned Dufy to transpose his wood engravings onto fabrics. As a result of their collaboration, Poiret and Dufy established a studio called the Petit Usine on the Boulevard de Clichy. Even though the studio closed its doors at the end of 1911, this brief collaboration with the great designer dramatically altered Dufy's carreer. Dora Perez-Tibi notes that "[Dufy's] work with Poiret was a crucial event in his career. It enabled him both to make a gradual break from the formal rigour of an aesthetic with a 'Cubist slant' and to rediscover his enthusiasm and natrual imagination." (op. cit, p. 70)
There are two known versions on canvas of Les Mannequins de Poiret aux courses en 1923 of which this is one, both painted in 1943, as well as several related gouaches, watercolors and wall hangings.
In 1910 Poiret commissioned Dufy to transpose his wood engravings onto fabrics. As a result of their collaboration, Poiret and Dufy established a studio called the Petit Usine on the Boulevard de Clichy. Even though the studio closed its doors at the end of 1911, this brief collaboration with the great designer dramatically altered Dufy's carreer. Dora Perez-Tibi notes that "[Dufy's] work with Poiret was a crucial event in his career. It enabled him both to make a gradual break from the formal rigour of an aesthetic with a 'Cubist slant' and to rediscover his enthusiasm and natrual imagination." (op. cit, p. 70)
There are two known versions on canvas of Les Mannequins de Poiret aux courses en 1923 of which this is one, both painted in 1943, as well as several related gouaches, watercolors and wall hangings.