The story behind the 'Paris Lost' prints is based on facts- their survival through the ravages of wartime travel between Poland, Spain and Germany, their appearances and disappearances- but there are gaps in it and unexplained mysteries, so that parts are necessarily the subject of some conjecture and hypothesis.
Paris was still the cultural and intellectual centre of Europe and Topolski, a frequent visitor in the years leading up to the war, found a wealth of easily accesible material for his racy line, sympathetic at times; at others, coruscating and caustic. As it still does today. Paris maintained its unrivalled tradition as the home of Cabaret; and the animated atmosphere of the boîte of Suzy Solidor, attracted Topolski no less than id did Jean Cocteau, Raoul Dufy, Kisling, Marie Laurencin and Picabia. But it was Eugenio d'Ors- professor, novelist, 'foremost among contemporary art critics'. He greatly admired Topolski's work and proposed a collaboration between them for a book- a medley of Parisian drawings and words. D'Ors was known to all the contemporary personnes de qualité and he introduced Topolski to the social, artistic , diplomatic and literary worlds of La Duchesse de la Rochefoucauld, the Mozart Club, Mauriac, Elsa Schiaparelli and the lectures of Paul Valéry.
While D'Ors guided Topolski around Paris he praised its unchanging characters, 'the bookworm, the Bohemian, the elderly rake, the abbé, the tart, the pick-pocket, the abbe, the student, the leading lady, the tramp and the little woman', all portrayed by Topolski.
Views: 205
Please login to leave a comment
Login here
alltradeart news, updates and conversations now @ twitter