The Great Wave off Kanagawa par Hokusai (1760-1849)
Hokusai is probably the most famous Japanese artist. I’m sure you’ve seen The Great Wave, the gigantic and threatening wave looming over a tiny Mount Fuji, while three small boats are braving the foam. Hokusai’s refined, delicate, and accurate style had an impact on the modern world in general and on the world of fashion in particular. Here’s how!
Vincent van Gogh, Amandiers en fleurs, 1890
I’ve told you about Carmen Herrera, who finally met with success at the age of 70, after a life dedicated to painting. Vincent van Gogh, for his part, would never have imagined that he would be so successful today. It’s never too late to become an artist – he was 28 when he started painting. You can identify his style from his use of intense colours, his texture effects, his lively brushstrokes that give his paintings a particular impression of movement. Such a visually characteristic æsthetic was a godsend for Rodarte, which paid tribute to the Dutch painter’s world in its 2012 spring-summer collection.
Remember the name of Akris: you’ll often come across it on As A Muse. The designer behind the brand, Albert Kriemler, is crazy about art, and has drawn his inspiration for his collections from several artists. For his Summer 2017 collection, Akris pays tribute to the oldest of contemporary artists: Carmen Herrera. This 101 year-old painter from La Havana only achieved success at 70! She’s an inspiring example of dedication to her art, even though she didn’t sell any paintings for most of her life. The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York offered her a retrospective in 2016. Good things come to those who wait!
Ha, Magritte… My favourite artist. I was very happy to hear that the brand Opening Ceremony is now using his work as its muse, even if the simplicity of the collection is a bit disappointing. But Magritte’s paintings are so powerful and iconic that they’re self-sufficient. Since there isn’t much to say about the way Humberto Leon and Carole Lim appropriated the work of the Belgian artist, I’ll just tell you a bit more about… Magritte! Have I told you that he is my favourite artist?
