Scarf

Madeleine Vionnet

ca. 1935 · silk · Costume Institute

Madeleine Vionnet was a consummate technician, particularly known for her innovative use of the bias cut, mathematically precise construction, and use of geometric forms. Often interpreted in a rectangular form, Vionnet instead renders the outline of three stepped quadrilateral forms--2 squares and a central parallelogram--in a bias cut to give this scarf a highly unique shape. Its irregular form, with only one seam on each side, is an example of her economy of cut. The abstract shape, textural fagotting and bright color combination, reversed on the opposite side, give the piece a lively presence.

Artist

Madeleine Vionnet

Date

ca. 1935

Medium

silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward G. Sparrow, 1969