Musée Bourdelle Exhibits Balenciaga, l’oeuvre au noir

Originally posted July 12, 2017, the blog post may have been edited for clarity and updated with relevant travel information and links.

The Montparnasse museum curates fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga’s work using black until July 16, 2017

In partnership with Palais Galliera and Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, Musée Bourdelle curates the perfect exhibit for true minimalists, fashion history geeks, and lovers of “all-black-everything.”

Thoughts on Balenciaga, l’oeuvre au noir exhibit

Balenciaga, l’oeuvre au noir highlights all the different ways in which Balenciaga draped, sewed, embellished, and manipulated fabrics into masterpieces. Garments were curated in collections with titles like Silhouette & Volumes, Black & Light, and Black & Colors.

Balenciaga may not be a French-born designer—he was known as “The Spaniard” among his contemporaries such as Chanel, Dior, and Schiaparelli—but his style is well-attuned with French sensibilities.

Viewers weren’t siphoned off into one designated area for the exhibit away. Instead, sections of the Balenciaga exhibit were spread throughout the museum. Each section of the Balenciaga exhibit was thoughtfully integrated with the rest of the museum’s collection.

While viewing the different gowns, it’s immediately obvious that every fold, every seam, every hem—everything—is constructed with a purpose. The end result produces a natural elegance in its simple, yet meticulously tailored, form. Balenciaga was a tailor by trade and his garments speak to his craft.

About Musée Bourdelle

Musée Bourdelle is centered in the heart of Montparnasse, a historically bohemian area on the Left Bank in Paris (Rive Gauche). The museum is only a short walk around the corner from the Montparnasse-Bienvenue station.

Check out Musée Bourdelle’s website for more information on exhibits and events.

If it wasn’t for the Balenciaga exhibit, Musée Bourdelle probably would not have landed on my radar, but I look forward to keeping up with the museum’s exhibitions in the future. The museum grounds are quite beautiful and worth visiting on their own.