BARBIER, George

"Barbier lets us dream that we ..  would lounge about, sipping cocktails with glamorous international travellers."

Georges Barbier was born in Nantes on 10 October 1882, where he later studied at the Ecole Regionale du Dessin et des Beaux-Arts. During the early years of his career he worked under the pseudonym of Edward William Larry, but in 1911 as his career became more established he reverted to his real name, although Anglicizing it George.

A celebrated fashion and costume designer working in Paris in the first quarter of the 20th century. Designs included costumes for the Folies Bergeres and for the Ballets Russes.

His book illustrations are in a distinctive art deco style, often with a hint of the Greek classical style, which he greatly admired.

The use of pochoir, a stenciling technique, provides a vibrancy and depth to the illustrations which cannot be equaled with printed colour.

Between 1916 and 1921 Barbier produced a series of Almanachs entitled La Guirlande des Mois and proving popular the almanachs were succeeded by a larger format portfolio of fashion plates entitled Falbalas et Fanfreluches (Ruffles and Frills).

Please scroll down to see our current selection of Barbier's work.