All text, concepts and images ©2009 - 2021 Debra Healy
unless otherwise stated.


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Zesty Literary Scandal Peirre Louys, Illustrated by Georges Barbier

GeorgeBarbier 

Les Chansons de Bilitis,1922
George Barbier was a master of scintillating illustration.

One book in particular Les Chansons de Bilitis,, 1922. Written in 1894 by Pierre Louys who claimed to have discovered and translated the work of the ancient poetess Bilitis a, contemporary of Sappho. It contains 143 prose poems, Songs of Bilitis.  

The courtesan poet Bilitis was supposed to have  been to the daughter of A Greek father and 

a Phoenician mother.   The pretense that Louys was the translator of an ancient text did not last very long, and "translator" Louÿs was soon outed as Bilitis herself. 

This only enhanced interest in the book. 


The Songs of Bilitis was praised as a fount of elegant sensuality and refined style, even more extraordinary for the time was the author's compassionate portrayal of lesbian and female sexuality. 




Dover republished the 1926 edition of the English translation of this book
with illustrations by Willy Pogany 

From my collection of illustrations by George Barbier




Thursday, October 11, 2012

Marie Antoinette Goes On The Block Again



Image from Olivier Coutau-Bégarie
France is a place were they keep digging up old relics.
They love their patrimoine, religious or otherwise.

European size 36 1/2
For your tiny tootsies originally owned by 
 La Reine Marie -Antoinette.
These silk slippers were Auctioned off  to day in Paris
Originally given to Alexandre-Bernard Ju- Des Retz ( 1752-1837)
as a souvenir in1775, (kinky)

Sold!  for 50,000 Euros


Image from Olivier Coutau-Bégarie

Also offered today a fabric swatch from one of her gowns.
 Pink of course, originally kept in an almanac by one of her secretaries.


image from Billiant Effects by Marcia Pointon
Earrings, silver maker unknown
collection of the Musée Carnavalet, Paris.

Sadly we all know how this sorry tale of fashion excess ended.
Imagine wearing celebratory jewels of such a bloody mess.   Positively ghoulish


Sunday, September 23, 2012

L'Automne 2012

So sad, not only the loss of light, the somber  autumnal mood with  the changing season, but my only child has moved to England  to continue his schooling.
I am left bereft in Paris.

 The Seine


This is one of the best and most accurate  films about France.  It very droll and very informed.
There are three episodes, stick with it it is well worth it.
Episode 2 was very illuminating. Sadly it was this episode 2 that confirmed our understanding that education within the French system was no longer an option for or son.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

July 14, Bastille Day

 Image Musee Carnavalet Paris

Today the French Celebrate  Murder and mayhem
amongst other things.

I have been watching the British historian Michael Wood's brilliant  BBC series
"Story of England". 

How is it that the British have been able to maintain the Monarchy?
A Monarchy which represents a symbol of unity.


A Giant disco-ball is suspended from the Eiffel Tower,
 fireworks and thumping American disco music, not a single French tune.

With strains of the Village People and Donna Summer, it made me miss New York and the days of Studio 54.


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Paris Metro

Frogs entering the metro French style.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Taming the Wild Paintbox

Color has preoccupied me all of my life. I am fairly  drunk with color shades and hues, I can experience rapture & ecstasy.

My eyes drink in what is fleeting and often indescribable.



My career took me on a surreptitious route from illustration to jewelry design and back again.

Jewelry is about colorful gems and reflected light.

I had an accumulation of watercolors in pans and tubes from various manufacturers from around the globe. Recently in planning a new series of paintings I had to put all of the paint in one coherent place. For this series I have had to limit the palette.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Saturday's Thoughts

Learn to use purple.

Betty Page Clothing
Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company

Think Pink!


Sanyu 1950
Taiwan, Mr & Mrs Y. C. Hsieh collection
Via the Musee Guimet Paris



Sunday, May 6, 2012

French Spin


Celebrate

 Its time to look around and celebrate!

Paris 2012

Sing

This post is to celebrate music.  My son  has a wonderful singing voice which we only recently discovered. He is  being trained by a remarkably talented singer and voice teacher,  who trained at Julliard.
 Valerie KOMAR  http://www.valeriekomar.com/
He has a deep baritone/bass.  He sang at the Erik Satie conservatoire in the choir when he was little, he reads music,  plays guitar, and piano. But this BIG voice is such a surprise!

An exuberant Dufy always does the trick!

 A Cocteau or two


A Picabia for spice, very nice!

Of thee I sing.

Thursday, February 9, 2012