september 25, 2018
Get Ready for More Iconic Artworks on Signare Bags
Truly great art is timeless and never goes out of fashion. Our ‘Masterpieces’ collection of products featuring designs by great artists such as Gustav Klimt, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Katsushika Hokusai and William Morris prove this. They remain as popular with our customers now as they did when we first introduced them.
Today, the works of many great artists are still being reproduced onto items we can own and enjoy, years – even centuries after their creator first had their moment of inspiration. Indeed, the trend for replicating great artworks onto items of high fashion – especially bags, is enjoying something of a resurgence right now.
Of course, Signare has always led the way. We’ve made it our mission to acquire the licensing rights for some of the world’s best-loved artworks, giving them our own unique tapestry twist.
It’s an ongoing project and one we love. Choosing our favourite masterpieces isn’t easy, but we’re pleased to reveal that towards the end of 2018, we’ll be launching a brand-new range of fashion bags adorned with iconic masterpieces.
To give you a flavour of what’s coming, here are just a few of the great artworks that we will be adding to our bag collection later this year:
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
Probably the best-known and most studied painting of all time, MonaLisa by the Renaissance genius Leonardo daVinci depicts Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco Del Giocondo. Her husband commissioned the work around 1503, and her enigmatic smile has been the subject of much debate. It continues to captivate millions of visitors who flock to see it every year in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it’s been on display since 1797.
Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci
Another painting by Leonardo da Vinci, Lady with an Ermine was probably painted around 1490, pre-dating his Mona Lisa by around ten years. At the time, da Vinci was in the employ of Duke Ludovick Sforza, and the subject of the portrait is thought to be the Duke’s mistress, Cecilia Gallerani. A renowned beauty, Scholar and poet, Cecilia was just sixteen years old when she sat for the painting. There is debate over the symbolism of the ermine she holds, and one interpretation is that the animal represents purity.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
In 2006, the Dutch public voted Girl with a Pearl Earring as the most beautiful painting in the Netherlands. Painted during the Dutch ‘Golden Age by Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675), the picture depicts a strikingly beautiful girl in a blue and gold headscarf. Set against a stark, black background, her face is illuminated by an unseen light, and as she looks over her shoulder towards the artist, her large pearl earring is prominently displayed.
Ballerina by Edgar Degas
This exquisite ballerina is a detail from a larger painting by the French artist Edgar Degas (1834 – 1917) of two ballerinas dancing on stage. Degas was fascinated by the world of dance, and over half of Degas paintings are of dancers. Although he is considered one of the founders of impressionist painting, he preferred to refer to his style as realism. In this painting, the graceful movement of the dancer in her ballet clothes, and the light of the theatre are captured perfectly.
Tournée du Chat Noir by Théophile Steinlen
This delightful art nouveau poster was created by the Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker, Théophile Steinlen (1859 - 1923). While living and working in Paris, Steinlen was commissioned to create posters promoting Le Chat Noir, a night club and entertainment venue in the bohemian Montmartre district of the city. Le Chat Noir is thought to have been the first modern cabaret establishment: patrons sat at tables drinking while being entertained by variety acts. The poster features a haughty black cat sitting neatly with its gaze fixed on the viewer.
These are just a few of the great artworks you can look forward to seeing on a wide range of Signare bags very soon. We’re already making plans to introduce more in the future, and we’re in discussion with a number of galleries and museums interested in stocking our products.
Here's a little sneak peek!
If any further proof is needed that great art is always in vogue, get ready for 2019 to be the year of Leonardo da Vinci!
Next year, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, 144 of the Renaissance master's greatest drawings will go on display in 12 simultaneous exhibitions across the UK. Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing, a nationwide event, will give the widest-ever UK audience the opportunity to see the work of this extraordinary artist. 12 drawings selected to reflect the full range of Leonardo's interests – painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany – will be shown at each venue in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton and Sunderland, with a further venue to be announced.
In May 2019, the drawings will be brought together to form part of an exhibition of over 200 sheets at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, the largest exhibition of Leonardo's work in over 65 years. A selection of 80 drawings will then travel to The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse in November 2019, the largest group of Leonardo's works ever shown in Scotland. (for more information go to www.royalcollection.org.uk).
Add a Signare Masterpiece to Your Bag Collection!
If you have a taste for great art and great fashion, make sure you add a Signare masterpiece to your collection of bags. It won’t break the bank, and it will never go out of style!
Need help? If you’d like any help or advice regarding Signare products, please call us on +44(0)1276 29483 or email us at info@acjade.co.uk