Dress
For Josephus Thimister’s fall/winter 2010–11 couture collection, titled “Bloodshed and Opulence,” the designer took as his inspiration the Bolshevik Revolution and its aftermath. While the theme was personal for Thimister, connected to his own Russian heritage, the designer considered its resonance universal, marking a period in European history that continues to shape the contemporary world. The collection alluded to the ravages of war through fake-blood-spattered, military-inspired ensembles. These evocative, finely tailored garments were juxtaposed with designs that recalled the lost opulence of Imperial Russia, including this dress, densely embroidered with scarlet bugle beads on a silk organza ground. The heavy beading lends weight to the fabric and structure to the silhouette, which is crowned with an integral, cowl-like hood. Thimister first introduced this silhouette in a series of garments designed for Balenciaga’s fall/winter 1996–97 ready-to-wear collection. The elegantly draped hoods evoked the face-framing veils of nun’s habits, an echo of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s lifelong referencing of ecclesiastical vestments.
Artwork Details
- Title: Dress
- Couture Line: Josephus Thimister
- Designer: Josephus Thimister
- Date: fall/winter 2010–11
- Culture: French
- Medium: silk, glass
- Credit Line: Gift of the artist, 2018
- Object Number: 2018.135
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.