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«Chanel is to fashion what Picasso is to painting», Jean Cocteau
The exhibition at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza explores the rela- tionship between Pablo Picasso and Gabrielle Chanel, two great creative figures of the 20th century.
In the spring of 1917, Chanel, friend of Misias Sert and Cocteau, met Picasso through them and his wife Olga Khokhlova who were at the time very involved in the Russian ballets with the Diaghilev company. The two sacred monsters were both in their thirties and were already famous in their respective fields.Picasso and Chanel collaborated twice with Jean Cocteau for his piece Antigone in 1922 and with Serge Diaghilev in 1924 for the Train Bleu ballet.
The exhibition presents an exceptional selection of clothing and works of art.
In chronological order, it is divided into four main sections. Cubism strongly influenced Chanel’s style through its geometric language, its chromatic reduction and its poetics of collage. Angular silhouettes, straight lines are adorned with blocks of color in simple fabrics.
The second section focuses on the many beautiful portraits Picasso painted of his first wife Olga, the Russian ballerina and loyal Chanel customer.
Gabrielle Chanel Daytime wear 1928-1930 Silk, leather, metal and glass.Chanel Heritage, Paris CHANEL