Casanova Costume

This beautiful illustration is from George Barbier’s Vingt-Cinq Costumes pour le Theatre. The work was published in Paris by Bloch and Meynial in 1927 and limited to 275 in publication. Each lithograph featured fantastic theatrical costume designs.

In the preface, Edmond Jaloux writes “George Barbier is one of the most precious and significant artists of our time…when everything has turned to dust and ashes, a few of his watercolours and drawings with suffice to resuscitate spirit of the era in which we lived.”

George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of the greatest French artists of the early 20th century. He first exhibited in 1911 at the age of 29 where he gained many commissions to design costumes and illustrate works, fashion in particular. Barbier led a group nicknamed by Vogue “The Knights of the Bracelet” formed from artists from the Ecole des Beaux Arts and including Monvel, Brissaud, Iribe, Lepape, and Martin. Beyond his illustrations, Barbier created jewelry, glass and wallpaper design.