Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A compelling look at the aesthetic and historical significance of Lagerfeld's work--from his elegantly tailored pieces for Chanel to the witty, playful ensembles that came to define the Lagerfeld brand This publication is the first to present an insightful overview of Karl Lagerfeld's (1933-2019) artistry across his extraordinary 65-year career as a fashion designer and creative visionary--from early work for Balmain and Patou in the 1950s and designs for Chlo and Fendi in the 1960s and 1970s, to his celebrated leadership in the 1980s and beyond at Chanel and with his own label. Inspired by the "line of beauty" theorized by the sixteenth-century English painter William Hogarth, this dazzling publication pursues four "lines"--straight, serpentine, satirical, and explosive--as a means of defining Lagerfeld's unique creative process. An introductory text uses these concepts to explore such topics as the masculine-perceived art of tailoring, the traditionally feminine art of dressmaking, Lagerfeld's use of irony and parody, and the way these three modes converge in surprising, disruptive, and innovative ways. Thematic chapters illustrating the dualities in Lagerfeld's work, an illustrated timeline of his career, and reminiscences from the designer's friends and colleagues accompany new photography of 155 garments, as well as Lagerfeld's illustrations, material samples, personal photographs, and drawings, many never before published.
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Synopsis
" Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty] sheds light on the work of a designer of genius who marked the history of fashion . . . forever."--CHANEL This first complete investigation into Karl Lagerfeld's (1933-2019) artistry explores his extraordinary 65-year career, from the designs for Chlo and Fendi in the 1960s and 1970s to his celebrated leadership in the 1980s and beyond at Chanel and with his own label. Inspired by the "line of beauty" theorized by eighteenth-century English painter William Hogarth, this dazzling publication pursues the straight and serpentine "lines" and their intersections in Lagerfeld's work as a means of understanding his unique creative process.
The book's elegant parchment and cloth cover, emulating an artist's portfolio, opens onto a pageant of stunning new photography by Julia Hetta of Lagerfeld's fashion alongside the designer's original sketches. The juxtaposition of drawings with finished pieces offers a window into Lagerfeld's creative brilliance. Texts include personal reflections from Lagerfeld's premi res d'ateliers--the seamstresses behind his extraordinary creations--as well as Anna Wintour, Patrick Hourcade, Amanda Harlech, and Tadao Ando. Not only a lavish objet but also an important resource on Lagerfeld, the book concludes with an illustrated timeline of the designer's long and illustrious career.
"Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty invites the public into Karl's world and reveals the dualities within his work."--FENDI
"This catalogue is a guide to the man and his work, a guide that Karl--even Karl--would have loved."--Anna Wintour
"The intersection of a serpentine line with a straight line . . . cross, overlap, and crush against each other, creating tension and expansion . . . offering a glimpse into the introspective world of Karl Lagerfeld."--Tadao Ando
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(May 5-July 16, 2023)
Synopsis
"The Met's latest tome expertly narrates the journey that earned Lagerfeld his seat at the hallowed throne of modern high fashion."--V Magazine Unparalleled in its luxurious presentation, this publication celebrates the virtuoso artistry of Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019). Designed to evoke an elegant parchment-and-cloth artist's portfolio, it boasts a pageant of stunning fashion photography alongside Lagerfeld's original sketches, offering a behind-the-scenes window into his process as well as his sartorial brilliance. Silver inks and select gold pages punctuate the book's stylish packaging and recall the designer's signature accessories. An illustrated timeline, unfurling from the back of the volume, chronicles the designer's long and illustrious career.
Lagerfeld produced over 10,000 pieces of clothing across his extraordinary 65 years as a powerhouse fashion designer, from his time at Chlo and Fendi in the 1960s and 1970s to his celebrated leadership in the 1980s and beyond at Chanel and with his own label. His voracious curiosity and boundless imagination yielded beautiful, evocative garments, more than 200 of which are showcased here. These are accompanied by personal reflections from Lagerfeld's premi res d'ateliers--the seamstresses behind his extraordinary creations--as well as by Anna Wintour, Patrick Hourcade, Amanda Harlech, and Tadao Ando. A lavish work of art in its own right, this book is also an essential resource on Lagerfeld and how his designs transformed the entire fashion industry.
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press