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National Gallery of Victoria announce Edward Steichen & Art Deco Fashion

The National Gallery of Victoria presents Edward Steichen & Art Deco Fashion an exhibition on view 18 OCT 2013 – 02 MAR 2014.

Edward Steichen  American 1879–1973, worked in France 1906–23 Marion Morehouse and unidentified model wearing dresses by Vionnet 1930 gelatin silver photograph Courtesy Condé Nast Archive  © 1930 Condé Nast Publications
Edward Steichen American 1879–1973, worked in France 1906–23
Marion Morehouse and unidentified model wearing dresses by Vionnet 1930
gelatin silver photograph
Courtesy Condé Nast Archive © 1930 Condé Nast Publications

Edward Steichen & Art Deco Fashion comprises over 200 photographs and more than 30 garments. This stunning exhibition captures the sophistication of the modern woman and the elegance of high-end fashion from this golden age of fashion and photography.

From 1923 until 1938, Steichen was chief photographer for fashion’s most influential and glamorous magazines, Vanity Fair and Vogue. During this time Steichen created images that were imaginative documents of glamour, talent, and style. His work revolutionised fashion photography, and influenced generations of subsequent photographers.

The exhibition will also showcase Art Deco fashion including garments and accessories from the 1920s and 1930s which express characteristic Art Deco motifs and introduce the modern forms of twentieth and twenty first century dressing. The development and changes in the slip dress and coat through the 1920s and 1930s will be shown with examples by leading designers of the day including Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet, Madame Paquin and Callot Soeurs.

Edward Steichen & Art Deco Fashion is a touring exhibition from the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, Minneapolis, augmented by works from the National Gallery of Victoria and public and private collections in Australia. www.ngv.vic.gov.au