Monday, July 24, 2023

Jean Pagès, fashion Illustrator

Jean Pagès (1903-1976), according to this web site, received architectural training before becoming a fashion illustrator.  Most of his work was for Condé Nast publications.

Like other fashion illustrators, his style was based on what was favored at the time.   In the 1920s, fairly flat, simplified images were preferred.  But as the 1930s rolled along, free-style wash drawings became preferred.

Below are examples of his work from the late 1920s to the mid-1930s showing his stylistic shift.

Gallery

Vogue illustration - c.1927
Geometric feeling ... perhaps a reflection of his architectural training

Vogue (Germany) cover - 19 December 1928
German Vogue cover illustrations tended to be simpler than those for France, Britain and the USA.

Vogue illustration - April 1929
Tenniswear fashions.

Illustration - 1931
Again, architectural referring training allowed him to convincingly depict shadows and interior structures.

Vogue cover - 1 June 1931
Matelot style costume.

Vogue illustration - 15 April 1933
Pagès' style is becoming more loose.

Vogue (USA) cover - 15 December 1933
Horrors!!  She's smoking!

Vogue (USA) cover - 1 October 1934
No drama in this pose.

Illustration - 1935
His work shows less free brushwork than the fashion illustration norm of the time.

Illustration - 1936
This is more in the new style.  Similar looking fashion illustration was common in the 1950s.

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