The Art of Parisian Chic (2025)
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artofparisianchic.bsky.social
The Art of Parisian Chic (2025)
@artofparisianchic.bsky.social
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The Art of Parisian Chic: Modern Women and Modern Artists in Impressionist Paris… a book on art & fashion by @addressingart.bsky.social to be published by Bloomsbury in 2025!
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artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Here’s a sneak peek!
Jeanne Duval, a Black woman seated dressed in full skirt with hanging belt, bonnet with large bow tied at her chin. On the other page a fashion plate image of a seated woman in a similar dress with a woman in white standing beside her.
June 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
5/ an American banker and one of the founders of Banque de Paris et Pays-Bas; they had a son together in 1877 and eventually married in 1885, after which Stern legitimized their son. More on how the painting was received in the coming days!
bust-length carte de visite photograph of white woman with velvet bodice, white collar and bouffant hair.
March 31, 2025 at 9:41 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
4/ She was said to have a “mad passion for riding and horses.” Off-stage, Croizette lived in a lavish mansion at 7 rond-pont des Champs-Elysées, where she hosted a regular salon frequented by prominent aristocrats, politicians, & financiers. She was in a long-term relationship with Jacques Stern...
Same white woman standing in black riding dress, holding a crop, wearing a top hat in front of a painted backdrop, leaning on painted fence.
March 31, 2025 at 9:41 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
3/ In At the Seaside, Carolus-Duran depicted Croizette, on horseback on the beach at low tide near the resort town of Trouville. Like Bernhardt, Croizette appeared frequently in the press and was photographed many times, including in riding dress... #arthistory #academicsky #19thc
White woman in black riding habit atop a chestnut horse standing on the edge of the sea at low tide.
March 31, 2025 at 9:41 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
2/at the Comédie-Française. The photo is undated but I'd guess it's from the early 1870s. She was a celebrated beauty & the sister-in-law of the artist Carolus-Duran, who painted her as an amazone (equestrienne) in an 1873 painting I discuss in the book. Her sister Pauline Croizette is on the cover!
The Art of Parisian Chic: Modern Women and Modern Artists in Impressionist Paris by Justine De Young. (Bloomsbury 2025). White woman in black dress standings against a gray wall, staring out at the viewer while she pulls off one of her gray gloves. Yellow rose on her hat, red bud at her breast.
March 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
1/Given everything it has seemed frivolous to post about my forthcoming book, but I’ve learned it’s being printed this week and so to celebrate I thought I’d post a #19thc carte de visite that just arrived yesterday too. It’s of the lovely Sophie Croizette, a great rival of Sarah Bernhardt...
Oval bust photograph of young woman with her hair in an updo accented with a daisy. Dress bodice ornamented with jet. A. Liébert the photographer. reverse of the photograph, printed in blue "Photographie Americaine" with Eagle US seal. A. Liébert (81 rue St. Lazare) Pres la Chassee d'Antin. Au 1er étage. Paris. [Sophie Croizette rivale de Sarah B. in later pencil]
March 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
2/Only some of which made it into the book. The rest I hope to share in a public lecture at the Getty (@gettymuseum.bsky.social) when the book is out. The BNF has alternate shot from the same sitting with Nadar.

#AcademicSky #theatrehistory
Jeanne de Marsy with same hair and outfit as previous card. Bodice covered in sequined arabesques. Sheer cape ornamented with sequins. Skirt embroidered with stripes of simple flowers. More pearl jewelry and a white feather fan.
December 13, 2024 at 4:26 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
1/Very happy with my cute new carte de visite album. Also the new postcard of Jeanne Demarsy (the model for Manet’s Jeanne). Here she’s playing a harem role in “Mon Oncle Barbassou,” an 1891 Gymnase production. I discovered a lot about Demarsy’s career as an actress and cocotte,

#19thc #arthistory
Small pink album with two cartoon eyes on it with a postcard resting on top Jeanne de Mary by Nadar. Bust profile photo of white woman draped in many strands of pearls including a choker, around her neck, over her shoulder and in her hair which is half up. Low cut bodice tinted aqua seems covered in sequins. Pink lipstick and burgundy flowers in her hair; chest faintly skin tone. Postcard otherwise B&W
December 13, 2024 at 4:26 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Going to be a bit quieter over the next two weeks as I have final page proofs to review (and an index to assemble!). Keeping two of the women in the book close as inspiration. ❤️ Wish me luck!

#academicsky #fashionhistory #19thc #arthistory #France
November 22, 2024 at 3:04 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
8/ For more on this story and other scandals, you’ll have to read the book (available for pre-order now)!

www.bloomsbury.com/us/art-of-pa...
Cover of The Art of Parisian Chic by Justine De Young (white woman dressed in black staring out at viewer)
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
5/ was such that the Journal amusant caricature of the portrait played on the dispute, showing Regnault’s horse knee deep in mud with the caption: “Miss Alice Regnault bogged down by Mr. Boldini. (25,000 francs. It’s for nothing.)”

#arthistory #caricature
Caricature of woman riding a horse through knee deep mud
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
3/ in scale—only slightly more than two feet tall, but the drama it caused was far grander. After the Salon opened, Boldini is said to have written a note to Regnault informing her that since she was not satisfied with the portrait (how he came to believe this is unclear), he would sell it.
white woman riding horse side saddle with white dog chasing
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
2/ subject, Boldini begged Alice Regnault, an actress at the Théâtre du Gymnase, to pose as an amazone (equestrienne) for him. She agreed with the understanding that the portrait would then be hers for only the “price of a smile.” The resulting portrait of Regnault riding in the Bois is quite modest
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
1/ Now for a story that I do discuss in the book: In the late 1870s, Giovanni Boldini, a young Italian modern-life painter was enjoying an “early rise to fame,” as one contemporary critic put it. Eager to couple the beauty and celebrity of an actress with a fashionable

#19thc #fashionhistory 🧵
Boldini self-portrait standing in black suit holding small canvas
November 19, 2024 at 3:06 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Notably Carnavalet has another photograph of a Horse Guard that they also label as Alice Regnault, but which is definitely another woman. It’s taken by a different photographer (Valérien M Ostroga) and the skirts are different lengths.

www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-car...
White woman standing in horse guard uniform with short skirt
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Gallica also has a caricature by Stop in Le Journal amusant that emphasizes the visual impact of the Horse Guard chorus line (and relies on the common visual trope that transformed contemporary women into dolls).

gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...
Row of women in Horse Guard uniforms mounted on sticks
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Gallica has a (notably simplified) costume sketch of Alice as Julia.

gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/b...
White woman standing in horse guard uniform with short skirt
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Carnavalet also an alternate view that emphasizes how short her skirt was.

www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-car...
White woman standing in horse guard uniform with short skirt
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Musée Carnavalet has a copy of my carte. Regnault here daringly adopts a pose more frequently seen in men’s carte de visites. In her role on the stage she wore white stockings, but they don’t seem present here.

www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-car...
White woman straddling chair in horse guard uniform with short skirt
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Can’t resist sharing this other recent find on eBay. Another shot of Alice Regnault by Gaston, Mathieu & Cie this time in costume as Julia, a Horse Guard in "Le Trône d'Ecosse,” which debuted at the Théâtre des Variétés on Nov. 17, 1871.

#19thc #France #theatrehistory
White woman straddling chair in horse guard uniform with short skirt
November 18, 2024 at 3:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
Exciting update, the photo of Alice Regnault (born Augustine-Alexandrine Toulet) is by Gaston, Mathieu & Cie. There's an alternate crop in the Paris Musées collection.

#fashionhistory #19thc #France #courtesan #chic

www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-car...
white woman in elaborate hat and trimmed bodice
November 17, 2024 at 5:53 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
I’m going to start sharing images of some of the women discussed in the book. These images won’t necessarily be the ones in the book, though some of them will be. Here’s a photograph of Alice Regnault, an actress at the Théâtre du Gymnase whom I discuss, which I just bought off eBay.
A seated white woman in a tailored bodice with elaborate trimming
November 16, 2024 at 6:43 PM
artofparisianchic.bsky.social
The book has a cover! Available for pre-order from Bloomsbury. Only $28!
November 15, 2024 at 4:34 PM