MPS n°3 - FOOLISH ELEGANCE

MEN PORTRAITS

_____________________ FOOLISH ELEGANCE

Nola Hatterman (1899-1944) On the Terrace, portrait of Jimmy van der Lak Stedelijk Amsterdam, 1930

**Girolamo de Romano detto Il Romanino (1484-1566) - Ritratto di uomo, c.1515-17 Royal Collection Trust - Windsor Castle - King's Closet**

Extract from artcile : " In the spring of 1931, Philpot moved to Paris, with his friend Vivian Forbes at the Hôtel Le Royal, boulevard Raspail. Very quickly, he decided to take a studio for himself, at 216 Boulevard Raspail, a Bauhaus style space, designed by Bruno el Houken for Helena Rubenstein, and divided into artists' workshops. It was in this workshop that many of Philpot's best works were produced ... The obviously elegant Man in White , no doubt painted during a stay in the Basque Country, remains anonymous to this day. He may be a young Basque sportsman, as the beret seems to indicate… Although, in the 1930s, the French Basque country and its games of Chistera and Cesta Punta were so fashionable that the elegant young people adopted all the codes of the genre, even if they were neither athletic nor Basque! Far from being anonymous, on the other hand, this little white sport shirt of little pique jersey, a light and particularly airy fabric, with short sleeves and a ribbed knit collar (to give it body and protect the neck of the players from the sun) is not unknown to us. Originally intended for tennis players, it was popularised by tennis champion René Lacoste and was to make an international career that has never faltered since. From 1933, it became the first sportswear displaying the name of a brand, in this case: Lacoste. No crocodile or label on the one worn by our elegant youngster here, and for good reason ... it was 3 years before the birth of the crocodile brand! Elegant as he was, this anonymous man in white knew how to maintain the immaculate whiteness of the original sportswear. A touch of chic! In the panoply of this elegant perfectionist, we also notice the beret firmly pressed on his head although languidly tilted over one ear, like the Basque shepherds; the leather belt with silver buckle clasping white pants (delicately gathered at the waist) and the watch on the wrist, worn like an expensive jewel ..."

MEN PORTRAITS

This article is from:

MPS n°3 - FOOLISH ELEGANCE