Early French hand-coloured fashion stencils

Clothes are designed to cover the body, but why not have more fun doing it? Styles constantly change and return with variations on a theme, but the period from 1912 to 1925 represented most changes that we can relate to today. Paris early established itself as the location of the finest fashion houses, and talented artists were employed to introduce the designers' fashions to the public. The Musée des Artes Decoratifs at the Louvre in Paris displays elegant illustrations by eminent fashion artists as well as actual costumes from previous eras.

The first luxury periodical that used the pochoir method of illustration was Journal des Dames et des Modes – Costumes Parisiens, published from 1912 to 1914. These small individually coloured stencils are now rarely seen. Couturier Paul Poiret employed the finest fashion artists, who between them created 180 different images over the two year period. Each image for each magazine utilized many different stencils for careful layering of gouache and watercolour by hand. Fashion notes and poetry were included in the periodical, but fashion illustrations were the drawcard.

Umberto Brunelleschii was a fashion illustrator as well as a designer, as was George Barbier who made his debut as a designer during the few years of this publication. Charming pochoir illustrations were also contributed by Armand Vallée, Roger Broders, Etienne Drian, and other fine artists. Journal des Dames et des Modes - Costumes Parisiens presented prominent designers' fashions in an appropriate setting. Each charming scene exemplifies elegant behaviour and privileged lifestyle, capturing the spirit of the era when they were painted, but many of the designs are still relevant today.

These delightful pochoir illustrations of Parisian fashion are still treasured by people of all ages, - particularly when enjoyed, framed on the wall. View and purchase from Antique Print Club online 24/7 at  http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/, or visit the Brisbane Antique Emporium, open daily from 10am to 5pm at 794 Sandgate Road Clayfield (entrance off Junction Road). Email sales@antiqueprintclub.com or phone 61 (0)7 5525 1363 for more information.