About Style Imitating Art…
Style Imitating Art is a group collaboration between Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. Please make sure you visit each blog to see their SIA looks. Style Imitating Art challenges people to find inspiration in different art works and create outfits based upon that art work. Every other Monday one of the three selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Salazar chose this week’s art work. If you’d like to read why she selected Sunspots, you can read more here. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here!
Inspiration art work…
About the art work…
Welp! I like to share information about the artwork, but this time, my friends, I am stumped! The only thing I can find is that it was created (not painted or printed) in 1904 and is the portrait of a lady. It is done in the Fauvism style. Fauvism was popular in France at the turn of the 20th century. The artists frequently painted from nature. Often compared to the Impressionists for this, the Fauvists differed greatly in their approach to color. They didn’t use the soft, muted colors seen in the works of Monet and Cézanne. Instead, the artists would paint directly from the tubes of paint and not mix them with anything to dilute the color. Needless to say, this approach was a bit shocking to those used to lily ponds and dancing ballerinas!
About the artist…
Cuno Amiet was born in Switzerland on March 28, 1868. Amiet began painting at an early age, but I don’t know exactly what that means! He studied with an artist named Frank Buchser before enrolling in the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1886. He remained there until 1888. During this time, he became fast friends with Giovanni Giacometti. In 1888, the two left for Paris where they studied at the Académie Julian. In 1892, Amiet joined the Pont-Aven School in Brittany. During this time, he encountered the works of Gaugin and Van Gogh and discovered the joys of pure color. I love this quote: “’Color meant the world to Amiet,’ Wolfgang Zaeh, the director of bromer kunst, tells artnet News. ‘To a certain extent, it was even more important than the form. He loved life and the beauty of people, nature, and objects. With color, he found a tool to express that affection.’” That seems to sum up the life of an artist, doesn’t it?
A little more…
In 1893, Amiet was forced to return to Switzerland as he’d run short of funds! His bold, colorful works did not receive praise from the critics or general populous. He had a one man show in 1894 which was less than successful! However, by the turn of the century, Amiet became quite successful, producing more than 4000 pieces of art including 1000 self portraits. You can find many of his works in famous art museums around the world. Several of his pieces have sold for over $1 million! Amiet died in July, 1961 in Oschwand, Switzerland.
My interpretation…
I have been saving this dress for a Style Imitating Art challenge. I always thought, however, it would be for Claude Monet! It is an old April Cornell cotton porch dress. I often wear it when we visit Newfields! I feel quite artsy in it! Unfortunately, I don’t have a link for it. I know this dress is old because my oldest granddaughter had a dress from the same fabric when she was a toddler. She’s now a teenager! When I looked at the inspiration piece, I was drawn by the deep greens and the play of light and shadow. But, when I went into my closet (which is now nicely organized and arranged), I didn’t see anything like that! And, then, my eye fell on this dress! I realized just how perfect it was. There is the dappled effect of the light coming through the leaves as well as the differing shades of green. I’m going to stretch the limits of interpretation here by saying the pinks and lavenders reflect the lips of the woman in the art work! And, it is definitely floral mimicking the florals (I think) in the background!
The Lewk!
I still haven’t unpacked most of my jewelry, but I don’t think I would have worn a long necklace with this dress anyway. Sometimes, when I’m picking out jewelry, I’ll go with the colors in the outfit. Sometimes, I just pick out a collection. Today, the first thing I pulled out was the bamboo cuff. This may or may not be sterling silver; it’s one of my long ago eBay purchases. But, it goes really well with my John Hardy bamboo collection earrings (this appears to be a resale site), bracelet, and ring. Finishing the look are my Sarah Flint Mirjana Wedges.
Affiliate links and such:
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Wrap it up, Marsha!
Oh, I am so glad to be back posting Style Imitating Art themes! I find these both fun and challenging! I am learning about new artists. But I am also having to use my imagination to come up with a look that is inspired by the art! So, can we talk? Are you an art nerd? Or, are you like me and love art, but you don’t really know that much about it? Where do you find inspiration for your clothing choices? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as quickly as I can! Our internet…well, it just plain stinks! As I write a post, my laptop loses connections, and then I get frustrated! Nigel thinks I should get a ChromeBook…honestly, I don’t even know the difference! Ah, not so big problems, right?
Thank you!
I am so very grateful to each and every person who reads my blog. I cannot tell you how much it means to have had some of you as subscribers from the beginning! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also host Final Friday Print Mixing on the last Friday of the month. I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Thanks for the history lesson. Never heard of the artist, never seen that painting. But it’s a beautiful one!
It’s a very striking piece of art, isn’t it? I liked many of his other pieces better.
The dress is beautiful! I adore the print on the dress and it is a lovely pick for this challenge.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you so much, Lovely! The print really is even prettier in person!
What a lovely dress and it does remind me of impressionism! I can see how it would easily extend into fauvism too. I can’t say I’m an art nerd as I much prefer making it to studying it. In fact I wanted to be an art teacher and minored in fine arts when I was in college; taking every art class I could cram into my already packed schedule (turns out I could cram in a lot!).
Thanks, Joanne! I did not know you wanted to be an art teacher, Joanne! I am always so in awe of artists. I took two art classes in college and loved them, but both classes taught me I am not an artist!!
You did a great job Marsha!! The dress is so pretty and I love it on you!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks so much, Kellyann! I really do love this dress!
I think the dress is perfect and yes I would’ve also waited to share this with a Monet painting. Glad you didn’t because it looks lovely on you!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Oh, thanks so much, Kathrine! Now, watch…next one will be Monet!!!
Well done! I think these posts are so fun as it helps you make a connection between art and fashion and interpretations can be wide ranged.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! You are so right. When I first started doing them, I stuck pretty straight with the art piece. Now, I try to branch out a bit more imaginatively.
That’s such a pretty dress, and the dappled green and white are a great fit for the challenge.
Thanks so much, Sally! I knew it would work for some SIA challenge!
Love this dress so much. The floral print is perfectly matched with those gorgeous shoes. I hope you are having a wonderful week.
https://www.bauchlefashion.com
Thanks, Heather! I always feel so artsy in this dress!! I am having a fabulous week! I hope you are, too!
I love how you had already had plans for this dress for Monet, haha. But it’s fabulous for this one and I just love the print.
Did you know that my stepmom calls herself Fancy Nancy with one of her nieces (although she will tell you that she is NOT very fancy, haha)
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! You know what they say about plans!!! I did not know Nancy calls herself Fancy Nancy! She was a schoolteacher, right? I’ll bet that’s where she got it from…or it also rhymes!
This floral print is so pretty on you, Marsha! And I’m loving the cut of the dress, too- super feminine and chic!
I’ve got a new post up featuring a white pinstripe blazer, I hope you’ll come check it out!
-Ashley
Thanks so much, Ashley! I toy with the idea of getting rid of it every now and then. But, I just can’t bring myself to do it! I’ll hop over to your blog in a bit!
Marsha, what a great dress! It is perfect for the painting. You know my fondness for all things green and I really love the greens and pinks together in the floral print of your dress. You have so many beautiful April Cornell dresses! I only have two that I thrifted years ago and now I want more! But also I don’t want more as I am trying to have less! Oh, the struggle is real.
Shelbee
Thanks, Shelbee! I really was torn about using this dress because it seems like I always revert to April Cornell dresses! But, it truly is what I have the most of, and the prints seem to work for many of the challenges! I am really working on shopping less. We’ll see how that goes!!
You’re right, Marsha, that dress IS perfect for this week’s SIA challenge! It’s a beautiful dress too, I love the colours.
I like art but I know nothing about it too lol. Michael and I have bought more of it in recent years, because we seem to appreciate it much more now than when we were younger. We also just sold our old house (right next door) to an artist, and we commissioned her to create a painting of an elephant which is absolutely stunning. I must share it on the blog soon! Also, she kindly just gifted us another painting of our dog, Luna!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks, Suzy! I thought it worked out ok even though the greens were quite a bit different!
I can’t wait to see your new pieces of art. An elephant…sounds magnificent!
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Love your interpretation and the art piece itself! I have never heard of that artist and now I have learned something new today!
Thanks, Erin! Learning about new artists is one of the things I like best about Style Imitating Art!
That art piece is a lot of green! You toned it down perfectly for your look. The dress is beautiful on you!
Thanks so much, Laura! I really liked the art piece, but that is not my favorite green! I was happy to come up with this dress!
The dress is perfect for echoing the dappling effect, which is what initially caught my eye about the artwork before noticing the colors (which is pretty odd for me). Beautiful and well done!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thanks, Michelle! That’s what I thought of first when I pulled out the dress. I initially thought the greens would be a better match. Overall, though, I like the look!
I noticed this dress at first sight, the color & printing is so attractive, I love the style too
Thanks so much, Bonnie!
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