Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, Paolo Roversi

 

Thursday was a double-header. 

I hit 2 fashion photography shows in one day.

I first read of the Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn MEP exhibit in Adrian Leeds’ very newsy newsletter 👍 

Some background notes on Lisa - a multi-talented woman excelling as a dancer, model, photographer, designer, sculptor & aviator (1911 -1992).

She was born in Gothenburg, Sweden (we have the same birth date). It’s also Norwegian Independence day FYI.

She studied expressionist dance in Berlin with Mary Wigman at 20. Then returned to Sweden and formed her own dance troupe. 

Her inherent grace and athleticism was key to her career as a top model.

Did she graphically design her poses to match the design of the garment. She certainly knew how to place herself in front of the camera 📸 

“I was a form in space” she said.

In 1936 in Paris she was discovered in an elevator (of course) by photographer Willy Maywald who asked her to model hats. The photos were sent to Vogue where Horst P. Horst took test photographs of her. 

In Paris Lisa met her second husband, fabulous, Irving Penn = a coupe de foudre/instant love ❤️  They married in 1947 and together created an indomitably pair in the world of fashion. Later photographers as Richard Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Erwin Blumenfeld, Man Ray among others eager to capture swan-like Lisa in their cameras. All represented in the nearly 150 vintage prints exhibit. A must-see for fashionistas.

Ever onward 

To Palais Galliera in the afternoon 

For the Paulo Roversi exhibit.

Roversi’s first exhibit of 50 years of photographs, 

Revealing how the artist uses fashion to create unique photos manipulating Polaroids. Alexander McQueen’s Rape of Scotland dress.

This Comme des Garçon ‘garlic head’ dress might have worked for Arianna on the red carpet. Grande’s pink duvet dress was designed by Giambattista Vialli haute couture. A side note* during Fashion Week I got a rush email from Vialli’s PR asking if I could come address ✍️ 300 invitations & seating place cards immédiatement. Plus be onsite ‘the day of’ the show to do ✍️ extras. If only 🙏😳 

Roversi likes his models front and center, staring straight ahead. Naomi in John Galliano.

Photographers like artists put up snapshots on the wall to study.

Le Trench coats are out. It’s sunny 🌞 today in Paris…whatev

More abstract-shaped women from Roversi. Quite a different view of women than the Fonssagrives exhibit.

Outside, waiting for bus 63 I spotted a woman looking ‘Springy’ in riding boots and white cardigan.

A closer look and I saw it was a discreet white Chanel jacket!

The ridding boots were à propos. Saut Hermés is on the weekend. Tickets probably sold out in January. 

If you enjoyed this post, you can support it buying my Paris letters & watercolors. 

Or you can buy me a KO-FI ☕️ 

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