Art, Fashion and La Parisienne

Exhibition poster designed by Ingrid Mida 2012

I've been quiet on the blog front of late, because I've been deep into my research for my thesis, which I hope might one day become a book. I created these two posters to illustrate my project which is entitled Art, Fashion and La Parisienne. 

My work was inspired by a painting called La Demoiselle de Magasin (The Shopgirl) by James Tissot which is in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. I soon discovered that this painting was one of fifteen large scale works in a series called La Femme à Paris painted by Tissot in 1883-85. Tissot made plans to issue series of etchings of the paintings, which were to be accompanied by short stories by leading authors of the period, including Émile Zola, Paul Bourget, Charles Gounod, and Alphonse Daudet. Despite Tissot’s earlier success as a painter, this series of highly polished paintings was not well received in either Paris or London. Tissot abandoned his plans to create prints of the paintings and the accompanying short stories.

La Femme à Paris  is a provocative series of narrative works showcasing the modern Parisian woman during a period of rapid change in the nineteenth century.  The series illustrates women from a range of income levels and occupations, rendered in precise detail using high key colours.

During the latter part of the nineteenth century, fashion and art were closely linked in Parisian society. Fashion was a subject of study and inspiration for artists, playwrights and poets. Descriptions of outfits worn by society women to the theatre, the opera and other social gatherings were routinely reported in the press. Many artists in France were influenced by the writings of Charles Baudelaire on fashion and modernity, especially his essay “The Painter of Modern Life” which was published in instalments in 1863 in the newspaper Le Figaro. In this essay, Baudelaire identified fashion as a way that artists could capture the processes of modernity in their work.

Using James Tissot’s series La Femme à Paris from 1883-85 as inspiration, my research will encompass an analysis of a selection of artworks, fashion plates and gowns from 1874-1886 to illuminate the intersection of art, fashion and modernity in the theme of la Parisienne.

I'm heavily immersed into my research, and I find the work utterly captivating. I now understand the origins of the modern icon of la chic Parisienne, images of which regularly grace the pages of blogs like French Essence, Fashion, Art and Other Fancies, Style in the City and of course, The Sartorialist.  

Although my blog posts might be a little less frequent, you can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.

Notice of copyright: 
All text and images on this blog are the copyright of Ingrid Mida, unless otherwise noted. The copying of posts, images and/or text without proper attribution is violation of copyright and legal action will be pursued.

Three Square Feet of Art

One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art. (Wilde)
Mixed media 12x12.
Copyright of Ingrid Mida 2009 (SOLD)


The truly fashionable are beyond fashion. (Beaton)
Mixed Media 12x12
copyright of Ingrid Mida, 2009


Carelessness in dressing is moral suicide. (Balzac)
Mixed Media 12x12
Copyright of Ingrid Mida, 2009 (SOLD)


In an effort to make something more than just three pretty pictures for the Square Foot Show at AWOL Gallery, I incorporated a witty quote about fashionable dress into my fashion plates. I had no idea that embroidering letters would be so time-consuming and so painstaking. (I ripped out stitches over and over and I still was not able to achieve the level of perfection that I had hoped for.) Nevertheless, I am pleased with the result as the quotes add a level of intellectual whimsy to the work. What do you think?

Square Foot Show at AWOL Gallery
101A Ossington Avenue, Toronto
Saturday, August 15 - September 6, 2009
416-535-5637

The Romance of France at La Pastorale

Today is Canada's birthday and it seemed fitting to announce that a selection of my fashion plates will now be carried at La Pastorale, a French country lifestyle boutique in the heart of cottage country in Owen Sound.

La Pastorale, which was recently featured in the July issue of Canadian House and Home magazine, is a boutique filled with beautiful home decor items. The owner, Pamela Smith, opened the romantic, light-filled shop two years ago and took her inspiration from her travels through France. La Pastorale ships across Canada.

I have to thank my fabulous friend Josie for putting us together and even offering to be my delivery person! Such is the power of friendship! Thank you Josie!!!!

I created a selection of French fashion plates (12x12x3) featuring 18th century fashionable ladies with their dogs called Jolie Femme Avec Le Chien on French toile for La Pastorale. Each plate is hand-beaded and one of a kind.

La Pastorale
790 Third Avenue East
Owen Sound, Ontario
Canada
519-470-4700
info@lapastorale.ca

Grande robe a la francaise

A little gift for all my new blogging friends...another fashion plate.

Fashion Plate #51 (partial image), copyright Ingrid Mida 2009 12x12, Mixed Media

In the second and third quarters of the 18th century, woman's court fashion was characterized by huge skirt with paniers and high coiffures. The robe a la francaise consisted of a tight fitting bodice with a stomacher, exaggerated skirt puffed out by paniers, and a sack back (two large double pleats which hung freely at the back from shoulders to hem).

While one often sees images of Marie Antoinette dressed in this manner, she, in fact disliked the discomfort of wearing a grand corps. The corsets of the French court were much stiffer than those worn in Austria and she decided to stage her own form of corset rebellion (please refer to my posting of October 13, 2008 if you'd like to read more on that).

Noeuds d'amour

Noeuds d'amour (Fashion Plate #39) by Ingrid Mida
Mixed media, 8x10

Noeuds d'amour are the "love knots" or bows that decorate gowns. I thought it would make an appropriate title for this little mixed media work.

I will get back to writing about Rose Bertin at some point but am at the moment consumed by a blog and a book called "Petite Anglaise" by Catherine Sanderson.

French Fashion Plate Series continued

I should probably write a book about Rose Bertin because I still have so much more to write about her. But today I thought I'd treat my blogging fans to one of my latest creations avec toile.

French Fashion Plate #38
Mixed Media, 9x12 copyright Ingrid Mida, 2009

Is it Art?

Fashion Plate #12, mixed media, 12x12 (partial image shown)
copyright Ingrid Mida, 2008

I haven't written much about fashion in a while. Not because I haven't been working, but rather because I've been obsessed by making images like Fashion Plate #12 shown above. I don't even know whether or not this one should be numbered 12 or 20. I had to guess. I have two full walls in my studio of them and more are in progress.

I also don't know whether or not they would be considered fine art. Perhaps they are more of a conceptual art piece, which is defined as art whose purpose is the expression of an idea.

I have juxtaposed the image of the 18th century woman dressed at the height of fashion alongside country folk. The fashionable lady looks down at the country folk and their simple pleasures and yet, who is happier? Who is entrapped in the folly of their desires?

All the research I did into Marie Antoinette combined with the precipitous decline in the economy triggered my insight into the dangers of the desire to live at the height of fashion. That insight led to my Cage of Desire series which in turn led to these works.

In any case, I am enjoying this exploration of beauty, desire and folly. I suppose whether or not it is art is for the viewer to decide.

French Fashion Plate Series

French Fashion Plate #10
Mixed Media, 12x4
copyright: Ingrid Mida, 2008

I continue to be obsessed with French fashion from the 18th century. This is one of my favourite creations. I'm not sure whether what I am making is considered art because it is too pretty and lacks angst. In any case, I love making them and now have a whole wall of them in my studio.

I have run out of this gorgeous fabric and am on the hunt for more toile de jouy. Nothing seems nearly as pretty and I am getting discouraged. I'll be pounding the pavement again today looking for some more fabric. I might just have to book a trip to Paris to find the perfect toile de jouy!

French Fashion Plates

The fashions of eighteenth century France are a visual manifestation of over-the-top ornamentation with ribbons, bows, beads and embroidery. Their utter decadence and impracticality symbolizes the desire and decadence of that period.

These are my latest art works to celebrate pre-revolutionary French fashion. (Just imagine Marie Antoinette on a promenade in the gardens of Versailles.)

Fashion Plate #2 by Ingrid Mida
Mixed media, 8x10, 2008


Fashion Plate #1 by Ingrid Mida
Mixed media, 8x10, 2008