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People who cherish the richness of life's rewards will no doubt take pleasure in Twentieth Century Boudoir Art. It has so much to do with being alive to the inner senses that it is only natural to delight in it. The pictures that this Movement's artists created attend to visions which we, as human beings, know quite well in our deepest dreams. What can really speak with a greater clarity of truth than an art form which focuses on the inherent beauty of the total woman? So, I welcome all of you along on an exciting journey into the caress of Boudoir. From paper images to the Internet, our basic values and what we consider delightful never really change very much, do they?
DAWNING...... Boudoir Art became a distinct movement beginning around 1900 and lasted until roughly 1940. Over one thousand different etchings and lithographs were created in France by almost a hundred talented engravers. These pictures all shared one theme: each of them focused on the inherent beauty of women.
As a true form of art, "Boudoir" evolved out of fashion and magazine illustration in Paris around 1910. At that time, France's most famous Graphic Illustrators focused large portions of their energy on crafting ingenious and playful ways to show off new clothing lines, accessories, and cosmetic products. Then, as now, merchandise sold better if associated with a lovely young lady. Colorful images of free-spirited young Mademoiselles adorned page after page of the best weekly tabloids. They were fun, sassy, smart, and chic. They were also clearly liberated from the restrictive harnesses of the previous Victorian era. Since this wise and playful style grew highly successful with the public, artists soon transferred its basic structure into other forms of artistic media. While oils were highly prized as "one of a kind", they could only be sold once! And furthermore, academic critics and museums did not like the whimsical, highly "decorative" style of Boudoir. But, the public at large did. And many wanted an actual piece of "that art" in their homes. Not only was it fun, but it was becoming quite trendy! To this end, copper plate engraving was the perfect answer. The plate could be printed on fine rag papers up to 500 times before beginning to wear out. Each of these pieces could be sold as a numbered, artist-signed, "original" work of art. And so, from 1920 on, Boudoir Art became a lucrative outlet for the graphic abilities of many upbeat Parisian artists.
LIBERATION....... Around the world, women were campaigning for recognition of their equality to men: in regards to education, the ability to vote, obtain employment, and delving into a host of very personal freedoms. Toward this end, Parisians were well ahead the pack! And so, in essence, they became an example for the rest of the world. They began their greatest strides in the 1895-1910. And that is exactly when this "new breed" of spunky Mademoiselles were first recognized and glorified in both major magazines and earliest Boudoir Art. As French women evolved to become more liberated and forward-thinking beings, their fashions, lifestyles, and habits did so as well. Necklines plunged, legs were shown, and some clothing became sheer enough to see through! Women now smoked in public, drank, danced to fast syncopated rhythms, and even made it clear that they took lovers by choice and not financial necessity. These free-spirited maidens became the heroines for an otherwise frustrated, bored, and overworked female population around the civilized globe. And with their mix of fire and pride, they were the perfect models for the graphic works of Boudoir Artists. Therefore, at the dawn of the Twenties, a tide of fine etchings began to inundate the decorative arts market which showed beautiful young women dancing, driving roadsters, lounging in their negligees, playing tennis, reading love letters, chasing afghans, hiding secret notes, teasing, flaunting, simply.....enjoying life to its fullest. But always with a solid sense of self direction and dignity. Finally, by 1925, Boudoir girls had become the sweethearts of the world! And yet, they were not cold distant models from some "higher order" or artists' "inner circle". But rather, they were as "real" in nature and spirit as everyone's sister, cousin, aunt and girlfriend. Not only did they crusade and prosper, but they also sometimes blundered and learned as well. They were us; with a just a little more guts!
FASHION PERIOD.....THROUGH THE WAR............. The original Boudoir Artist was Maurice Millière, who created most of his copper plate engravings in the 1908-1915 period. He was an extremely talented artist, who started out doing formal female portraits mostly in single line "drypoint", somewhat akin in style to the well-respected Paul-Cesar Helleu. But by 1912, he'd made a kind of quantum leap to much more playful, semi-risque compositions. The public quickly took notice and began buying his etchings. Boudoir Art was born. But someone else took note of his wonderful formula as well! From 1912 to1914, Louis Icart overwhelmingly projected himself forward in the same genre, producing his own series of small, playful "fashion" etchings that depicted sensuous young Mademoiselles. From the start, it was clear that Icart had the edge in terms of technical ability and imagination. He quickly began to eclipse Millière, the originator, in this sector of the art market. But World War I intervened and halted Paris' hunger for Boudoir Art and other frivolities. From 1914-1918, it's evolution seemed to stall on the surface. But Louis Icart made use of the time to further perfect his progressive engraving techniques. By the war's end, he had a profound mastery of working a copper plate, including a dazzling depth and variety to the use of color and acid bath textures. Taken together, his new methods, bold compositions, deft graphics and ingenious storytelling abilities assimilated themselves into masterpieces of both deep meaning and sassy , smart artwork. From 1919-1921, Icart released an amazingly rich and progressive body of stunning work that would simply overwhelm and crush his competition. Then and thereafter, Maurice Millière and his other contemporaries would forever be eclipsed. No wonder that in later decades, we simply called any etching in the Boudoir Style an "Icart look-a-like!" But, in point of fact, this was a very superficial view of things. For Boudoir was not Icart's creation or property. It had begun before him. And in spite of his clear dominance in the marketplace, there were many other fine artists who modified and tested its style. An art form born of freedom should not be quantified by, or chained down to, any one person. Though Icart was Boudoir's greatest Master Artist, he was, after all, just another member of the Movement as a whole.
THE TWENTIES......... The Twenties was Boudoir Art's greatest decade. The world was euphoric at the end of the World War I's crazed carnage. Societies celebrated lightheartedly as a new sense of security and prosperity pervaded the Western World. People played. Women forged ahead toward bold and independent destinies. And artists recorded the gay adventure in both traditional forms and modern media. With economies booming in France and America, "original" artist-signed engravings were much preferred over the cheaper mass-produced lithographs. So in the trendier galleries of that day, one might run across many of the newer works of the Boudoir Movement; including the masterpieces of Louis Icart, the luminary visions of William Ablett, the traditional sweet beauties of Maurice Millière, the pretty poses of illustrator Georges Grellet, and even the maiden works of Paul-Emile Felix and Jean Hardy! By mid decade, there were dozens of engravers pouring out paper images through numerous large Paris distributors, such as l'Estampme Moderne. Anticipating the future, Louis Icart took greater control of his career by directly copyrighting and distributing his own works! Americans bought most of the pieces that came onto the market! For we were endeared to, and pleasantly challenged by, these French ladies. Our women secretly admired their sass and strong wills; our men their daring and pertness. But fortunately, the message behind Boudoir was rarely focused purely on the sexual. There was always that sense of mystique, allure and maybe a "possibility". Therefore, etchings depicting nudes sold less well than those showing women in clinging, translucent gowns or simply bold designs.
THE THIRTIES.......INTO THE NEXT WAR....... While the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Depression certainly hurt some of the art market, Boudoir Art rolled right along. Prices may have dropped, but people still needed to maintain their sense of fun and hope. Louis Icart evolved to new heights; creating bolder, bigger, more visually stark and daring works. Through the Thirties his graphics moved through a form of classic Art Deco toward an early anticipation of Hollywood Pinup. In the meantime, Jean Hardy, Paul-Emile Felix, and Suzanne Meunier preoccupied the vast remainder of the Thirties market for Boudoir with more standard fare.
With the dawn of Nazi aggression across Europe in the mid- to late-Thirties, the mood in France and neighboring countries became severe. Life was no longer an exercise in the variances of subtle pleasure, but rather something you might simply have or not have very soon in the toss of fate's dice. Consequently, people toughened and involuted. Senses and primal pleasures moved underground; or were simply stored away for the duration. The market for Boudoir Art dried up quickly. And once the Nazis marched into Paris in 1940, artwork could no longer be exported to the United States.
ARTISTIC ARCHEOLOGY......... Boudoir etchings suffered many fates during the ensuing "forgotten"decades. Some languished on walls unnoticed, a few were still continually admired by staunch afficionados, but most went to attics and basements. There, they often suffered great amounts of physical damage. And many were ultimately thrown out in the trash! The earliest Collectors of the Sixties and Seventies often tell us how they "collected" from the curbs on Trash Days! But such blindness could only last so long! We know that anything of real inherent value will ultimately become popular again. "What goes around comes around." And so, it was only a matter of time before people recognized Boudoir etchings for what they were: lovely, fine, fun art that was focused on beautiful free-spirits! Naturally, Louis Icart was re-"discovered" first. His works much more stunning, better executed, and more numerous than those of others. Large collections began in earnest in the Seventies. And then, in 1973, S. Micheal Schnessel broke the ice once and for all by releasing his first "book", a glorified ring binder. The wheels were in motion ever after!
Schnessel's second book was his masterpiece, "Icart", a hardcover showing well over two hundred of the artist's major works. Published by Schiffer in 1976, it also reconstructed his life from interviews with surviving family and friends. Still, there was a long way to go! In 1990, "Louis Icart: The Complete Etchings" was compiled by Bill Holland, Nicky Eisen, and myself. This large reference work shows over 500 of Icart's graphic masterpieces and essentially fills in all the previous gaps. Considered the current "Bible" on this artist, it is now in its third edition!!!
REDISCOVERY OF "BOUDOIR ART"............ But something still bothered me after finishing the Icart book in 1990. I couldn't help but notice and admire the countless engraved works on the market that were by other French artists in a style similar to Icart's. But, as yet, there was no real concept of "Boudoir Art" being discussed in the field. All that seemed to exist about these prints and their creators were sketchy rumors and conflicting anecdotes!!! It astonished me......seemed so utterly inconceivable that an entire "movement" of such stunning and abundant art had been left floating in a near vacuum for so long! So, I became determined to learn about the "movement", and resurrect the knowledge that we'd lost about these artists. Through several years of acquisitions and visiting with major collectors, I tracked down as many of these "pretty pictures" as possible. But the difficulty arose in trying to learn the specific details of the lives of the artists' themselves. No one remembered anything. Too many years gotten in the way! But a stroke of luck put me in touch with a very qualified researcher in Paris, Marie-Odile Houssais-Cailleau. With great enthusiasm and fervor, she discovered quite a lot of information in the dusty crypts of Paris' forgotten archives. Ultimately, I was able to compile "Boudoir Art: The Celebration of Life" in 1994. This book finally demonstrated the true evolution of the entire Boudoir Style in an accurate context. Furthermore, it showed the known works of both major and minor artists in the Movement, describing their life histories whenever feasible. Even Icart's formative background is traced. Therefore, this book is your "required reading" if you are interested in collecting Boudoir Art. The fun of it lies in the fact that it's always a case of "detective work in progress". I am currently preparing the Second Edition with many new discoveries included to wet everyone's appetite!
THE ADVENTURE AHEAD....... So, what draws us to Boudoir Art? Well, certainly, one would first reply, "The art itself"! And that is true. Such a fine style, "look", and cheerful "message". But also, it appeals by virtue of qualities which tend to stimulate all "collectors" as a group. There is so much to learn. So much bold adventure to it. Such great challenge! For instance, consider it's stunning variety of artists, styles, and prices. Add to this it's mystery! Never knowing when and where a new image will show itself after all these years. And this actually still occurs frequently in the field of Boudoir Art. Therefore, you can still be one of its Archeologists, believe it or not! You don't need to be a "dealer" or "specialist" to simply discover! All you have to do is dare to be there! And after all, isn't that the real message sent to us through time by the Boudoir Artists? Dare to live; be free; and adventure? Dare to try, to learn, to find out exactly who you are? And then, show the world exactly what you are, and can do.... and might give? Well, in that case, it all comes down to how you lead your brief time on this planet, doesn't it? What's your style,.your statement, your dream? So, do you spend your time at the TV with rock posters on your wall? Or do you take a real taste of life? Seek culture and experience. Know dance, romance, music, and art? If so, then you might yet become a serious Collector of Boudoir Art. Ultimately, we all must find our own true soil.........be it in a field of blooming flowers with the spirits of laughing French women all around us, or quite oppositely, in the dim of a mushroom patch with those who would belittle and scold them. For me....the choice was always quite clear. I would bow to the spirit of the angels.
I hope you'll join us in the adventure of life discovered through Boudoir Art!!!
DavidChaseGallery.com
PMB 263, 590 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 872-4854
clifford@joshuasattic.com
