What would Paris be without an exhibit dedicated to fashion? This one is quite unusual; the fashion museum, the Palais Galliera, is presenting Balenciaga: L’Oeuvre au noir at the Musée Bourdelle. The Bourdelle is the former studio of sculptor Antoine Bourdelle and I visited it one other time for an exhibit of the fashions of Mme Grés. The juxtaposition of the gowns and sculptures was extremely dramatic. I’m looking forward to seeing the fashions of Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in this setting — black clothing highlighted against the white plaster sculptures.
Balenciaga was inspired by the black robes of religious orders. In speaking of Balenciaga, Christian Dior said, “Le vêtement était sa religion” (luh vet-mehn et-ay sah ray-li-jhe-ohn), which means “Clothing was his religion.” I’ve seen a Balenciaga exhibit before and I can only imagine how beautiful the clothes will look in this spare and beautiful setting with its beautiful light, almost like a cathedral. The exhibit is on until July 16, 2017.
One quality, the finest. 