“THE THEATRICAL ARTIST WHO… CAPTURED THE MOOD OF THE AGE”: LOVELY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR AND GOUACHE PAINTING, SIGNED AND DATED BY GEORGE BARBIER

BARBIER, George. Original pencil, watercolor, and gouache painting, signed. [Paris]: 1919. Original pencil, watercolor, and gouache, heightened in silver gilt, on card, measuring 8 by 10-1/2 inches; matted and framed, wntire piece measures 14 by 18 inches. $6900.

Striking original pencil, watercolor, and gouache design, highlighted in silver gilt, by legendary fashion designer George Barbier, of a "Gypsy" with tambourine, possibly relating to costumes designed by Barbier for the Gypsy ballet "Amarilla," danced by the Anna Pavlova and Alexandre Volinine at Drury Lane in 1920, signed and dated by Barbier.

"George Barbier is one of the most valuable and most significant artists of our time, so rich in all kinds of talent and original ideas. When our age is past… it will just take a few drawings of Barbier to revive the taste and spirit of our time… When I look at Barbier's costumes for the stage, I see the characters of those magical stories come to life before me and tempt my imagination" (Edmond Jaloux). Renowned for his fashion plates in leading contemporary magazines, including the Gazette du Bon Ton, Journal des Dames et des Modes and Vogue, Barbier's artistic style is readily identifiable by his elegant, stylized line. Barbier later created costumes for the Folies Bergères, in addition to the entire wardrobe for the movie "Monsieur Beaucaire," starring Rudolph Valentino. "His flamboyant work continues to influence Vegas floor shows, major designers and costumers worldwide" (Robert Inman).

Fine condition.