Dragonfly Corsage, Rene Lalique Flashcards
Introductory Sentence
I have studied Rene Laliques Dragonfly Woman Corsage 1897-1898
Fitness for Purpose
-A pin for the brooch, this is seen in the back of the piece and it allows it to be worn securely on clothing
-Hinges are used on the back of the wings this makes the brooch easy to adjust to the form of the body and its more comfortable
-The brooch has a large scale seen the in the overall size and this makes the brooch a status symbol, one off piece and a talking point
Function
-It is used as a status symbol which is seen in the fact its one of a kind and uses expensive materials. this is done to show off and shows the wearers class and wealth
-It is used as an adornment piece as it has a pin in the back of the piece, this is done as it is a decorative piece made to draw attention
-It is decorative and this is seen in the highly intricate wings that add detail
Materials
-Enamel has been used in the colored webbing of the wings, this gives it the shiny translucent look of insect wings
-Chyrsaprase has been used which is a semi-precious stone used for the female body, this is used as the stone is easy to carve organic form into allowing for a lot detail
-Diamonds are used and seen in the dragonfly wings, this gives an expensive, wealthy and fancy look to the piece also eye-catching
Techniques
-Plique-a-jour (enamel with no backing) is used in the webbing of the wings, this is done to show the texture of a real fragile dragonfly wing, adds to the realism
-Lost wax and casting (mold made with wax) this is seen in the main body of the piece and is done as carefully creating a mold with wax allows the artist to add lots of detail
-Stone carving is used in the chrysoprase in the female form and is used to create soft organic forms and lines
Target market/audience
-It is targeted at a female audience this is shown as woman usually wear brooches and they are worn as a status piece and the high detail in the piece is preferred by females
-It is targeted to people above the age of 25 and this is shown as brooches are usually worn when you’re older and used for formal events, this is dome because it is a statement piece for formal events
-It is targeted at a high income bracket/wealth this is seen in the gold/semi-precious stones and highly detailed craftsmanship seen in the piece, this is done to appeal to the taste of higher income people who look for good quality and beautiful pieces
Visual Impact
-The scale creates visual impact this is seen in the large overall size of the brooch, this is done as it is a statement piece and draws eye to the wearer in contrast to a normal size of a brooch
-The subject matter creates visual impact as it it is a hybrid creature, this is done as it is usually not seen and is uncommon this helps the piece be unforgettable
-The craftmenship creates visual impact as the figure is detailed and intricate, this is done as it makes the piece of high value and memorable
Style
-The piece is in the art nouveau style, this is seen as the movement takes inspiration from nature, soft, organic shapes which is shown in the subject matter, this is done as it creates a typical nouveau art style
-It has a highly decorative style this is seen in the detail of the wings and tail of the dragonfly, this is done as decorative style helps the piece stand out among other pieces,
-It has a mythological style this is seen in the hybrid creature that is the subject matter, this is done as the subject matter is unexpected to see in a normal brooch and catches the eye
Social and Cultural Influences
-Arts and crafts movement in referenced, this is seen in the high quality materials and time consuming techniques used, this is done as it contrasted with the industrial revolution and was put against mass production and ready made goods.
-1800’s change of role of women in society, this is seen in the strong central female figure, this is done as a symbol of peace, power and dominance, making sure that women voices are heard.
-Trade and travel, this is seen in the intricate details, inspired by nature, this is done as far east trade had begun which brought a replicated style of the far east, highly detailed and inspired from nature
