The sense of mystery is palpable in Louis Vuitton's latest collaboration with artist Jeff Koons. The choice of the world's most famous paintings as a unifying theme for a new line of handbags in "The Masters collection" reflects the artist's preoccupation with the ideas of creativity. Because art does not just belong in ornate picture frames, it is something that lets us become more aware of our life, our potential, and what we can become.
A STORY OF JEFF KOONS
Mr. Koons's work is often interesting, entertaining and accessible, even though it has been both dismissed and exalted by critics who regard it as kitsch. The artist himself maintains that it is a celebration of what it is to be human and he hoped that people just understand his ideas. Inspired by his "Gazing Ball" series of paintings from 2015, which featured exacting reproductions of various masterworks with blue reflective spheres normally used as lawn ornaments affixed on top and refracting the viewer, he has remixed the iconic paintings of the old masters such as Da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Fragonard and Van Gogh and presents them in a way that encouraged new interpretations.
THE COLLECTION
The Masters collection takes several of these images and transposes them onto classic LV bags styles like the Speedy, the Keepall and the Neverfull, along with wallets, laptop cases and shawls. Each bag is emblazoned with the name of the Master it touts (Rubens, Da Vinci, etc.) in reflective gold or silver lettering. The bottom edge of each bag features Koons's initials and LV style. A balloon bunny (Koons's calling card) done in leather replaces typical LV ID tag.
An exclusive interior of the bags includes an inset bio and portrait of the original Master tells you more about this unexpected collaboration.
PAINTINGS
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) became known as the "sun amidst small stars", a reference to Dante's Paradiso. Among his most sensual masterpieces is Mars, Venus and Cupid, an animated, erotically charged composition. The sense of energy and the emotional interaction between the subjects point to Titan's evolution from a naturalistic approach to a more mannerist style marked by intellectual sophistication and compositional tension.
Vincent Van Gogh is most often romanticised as the quintessential misunderstood artist, possibly because his most painful periods psychologically were the ones that defined his bold, colourful style. For instance, Van Gogh painted A Wheatfield with Cypresses while voluntarily interned in the Asylum. The swirls, impasto and vivid colours are packed with emotional resonance, painted the year before his suicide.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard found favour with the French court, the aristocracy, and the emerging bourgeoise. His paintings are known for combining charming lightness with innuendo and psychological insight. In Girls with Dog, the subject's pose and the treatment of light could be lascivious. Erotic overtones aside, the work captures the love of luxury and voluptuousness enjoyed by the wealthy in pre-Revolutionary France.
Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the world's most celebrated portrait. The subject of the painting remains a mystery - it might be a portrait of the Virgin Mary, or the pregnant wife of a wealthy merchant, or a composite. The shadowing, or "sfumato", around the subject's eyes and mouth give her an enigmatic, illusionistic and lifelike smile.
Sir Peter Paul Rubens was one of the most succesful artists of his day. Tiger Hunt, a large, breathtaking painting, is one of four done for Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria to decorate his palace. The composition is inspired by The Battle of Anghiari, a lost painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
If you love fashion and art, this collection will definitely catch your attention. But it is necessary to say, that these bags are not sold online- they are available at select Louis Vuitton stores and a New York- based pop-up shop. On the bright side, Koons and Vuitton are in talks for a second collaboration. Head over to louisvuitton.com to ogle the collection in full!
Photos via Louis Vuitton
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