{Artist} Emile Gallé


Happy Friday petals and butterflies...I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I wanted to share today one of my most favourite artists. Many of you will know by now through my Twitter and my Facebook page, that I am besotted with the Art Nouveau period, it's my favourite time of Art history besides the Egyptian & Gothic/Medieval times.  Emile had a stunning talent & I'd be over the moon to have one of his original pieces. His life was fascinating, yet heartbreaking. I hope you enjoy, I tried to make it as short as possible and included pictures too, so don't feel bad if you look more than read.

Have a wonderful weekend Starlets!




A Dainty History Lesson


Emile Gallé {Nancy. France. 8 May, 1846- 23 September 1904} Was a key figure in the Art Nouveau era. A man of his time. He was a dreamer, a botanist, had a strong political agenda, industrialist. An Artist finding his medium in glass. He built a substantial glass and furniture empire from the family business. Creating stunning prototypes and then giving them to his team to be massed produced across France. Art and Industry went hand in hand. He was quite clever with experimenting with various techniques to texture the glass. Using acids while layering and cutting. The pieces he made were of a complexity never seen or achieved in that time. The exhibition pieces went far beyond the decorative nature, they were engraved with quotations. He had a magical, poetic quality which went on to become his signature. He invoked nature and the cycle of life. The pieces drew you in and engulfed your senses, so that you became lost in it. He was a true artist. Gallé's view of nature was a true and honest one, he also appreciated what was decaying, rank and dying. He was trying to find a new way of expressing the realities of modern life and death. 
At the end of the 19th century, Nancy became the power house for Art Nouveau, in 1901 an association of local designers grouped and formed. Gallé of course was the visionary. One of the pieces exhibited at the 1900 world fair, was called 'The dark men'. This piece was cry out for the injustice that threatened to destabilise the government & the country's fragile peace. All for a man named Alfred Dreyfuss, a Jewish Army officer who was sentenced to life in prison on the basis of documents that had been faked. He was humiliated and had his rank badges torn from him and his sword broke in half. The anti semitism that exploded in France after this split the country. Artists stood up for Dreyfuss and eventually paid the price. After the World Fair,  Gallé's business suffered, he was ostracised because he defended an innocent. Customers slowed to a hault and he worried for his family and factory. He also found out he was dieing (Leukaemia). He began pouring sadness and melancholy into his work. The very last piece he made before his death was a bed - 'Lit Aube et Crépuscule' (Dawn and Twilight bed). A beautiful piece that many feel symbolises life & death. The moth lifts up to the sun living and breathing, then falling at night dying and stopping. Sadly he didn't get to see Dreyfuss exonerated in 1906. He died two years earlier. But, in the last years of his life he created some of the most moving and powerful pieces ever.

His wife Henriette Gallé chose to keep the plants and continue his work with the help of employees, designers, sculptors and engravers, under the guidance of Victor Prouvé, her husband's faithful collaborator. She gathered up collected writings and published them in ''Writings for Art'' in 1908, which was used to help raise awareness of the genius that he was. Pieces created after his death have a special marking after his name, so you know it was made after and not before.





{Les Hommes noirs (The Dark Men). Emile Galle (French, 1846‒1904) and Victor Prouve (French, 1858‒1943). France, 1900. Blown and cased glass, cut, acid-etched, engraved, polished, applied silver stain. H: 38.1 cm, Diam (max): 32.1 cm. Collection of The Corning Museum of Glass (2011.3.1}


{'Lit Aube et Crépuscule' (Dawn and Twilight bed), 1904, Musée de l'Ecole de Nancy.}


{Emile Gallé in 1892painted by Victor Prouvé. ©Coll. Hand.}


Major works were from 1989 to 1904:

Glass vases and lamps, with cameo or wheel-carved Gallé signature, etched to depict landscape scenes, flowers, butterflies or birds amongst foliage, in double or triple overlaid and etched glass; internally decorated, overlaid, wheel-carved glass; cameo glass; flashed, engraved, chased and enamelled glass.


Here are just a small few of creations. Many more beautiful ones out there to discover.









{All images found via the Internet. none are mine}

52 comments

  1. The glass work is phenomenal! This is such a great collection. As always, you have a great artistic eye my dear! Have a great weekend! x

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  2. LOVE the history lessons Kizzy, wow is all I can say, so informative:)
    And of course HAPPY weekend dear friend, hope you have a fab time with your wonderful family,
    Axxx

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  3. That bed is amazing!

    http://everydayrachel21.blogspot.com/

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  4. Thank you for the lesson! It's interesting to see that so many artist's best work has been created during dark periods of their lives. I guess you could say depression creates beautiful, emotional things...I love Art Nouveau too. I can see how Gallé's furniture would fit perfectly in the elf town Rivendell - a place I wouldn't mind living in :) That bed is amazing! How he was able to create something so frail as a moth, out of a material as hard as wood! Perfection! Today we celebrate Midsummer Eve in Sweden, so tonight I'll be dancing with both the fairies and the moths! Happy midsummer love! xxx

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  5. Is Kizzy your name???
    Love, love, love.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  6. wow, its all so beautiful and full of inspiration (:

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  7. Kizzy, this is such an amazing and educative post, you've just opened a whole new world for me, thank you! His work is truly spectacular, and his story so sad!

    xx Ivana
    Macarons and Pearls

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  8. *love*how natural elements were incorporated into each piece giving them an organic vibe. Enjoy your weekend doll!

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  9. As an artist and an Art History buff. I loved learning about Emile. Take care and have a lovely weekend.

    Lisa x

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  10. wow that bed! and those vases and lamps are master pieces!!!

    wish you a lovely weekend dear and take care.

    xoxo, Haus of Gala

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  11. thanks for watching me in my video even though I get awkward! hahaha OMG I have to have that bed!!!! and the shelf, and the vases.....ok, I'll take it all. You ship to the US?? hahaha I love that time period too and egyptian styles too. We are kindred spirits!

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  12. Beautiful.
    Follow eachother?

    http://lajune16.blogspot.com

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  13. Kizzy, his work is so incredibly stunning and the story so heartbreaking. I can't believe I didn't know more about him but now, because of you, I'm going to read up. What gorgeousness he brought into the world. Wishing you a very happy weekend!!

    xo Mary Jo

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  14. nice post..love it..
    nice creations..
    kisses
    http://color-blockbyfelym.blogspot.com

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  15. his glass work is quite beautiful! I went to a glass work workshop once and since then I've always have such respect for glasswork artists!

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  16. Kizzy,

    What an interesting and talented man, his work is gorgeous!

    The history behind the man and what he stood for is as interesting as his work is. Very impressive!

    Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for sharing! :)

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  17. nice post!! very unique pieces!
    xo
    MOSAMUSE

    www.MOSAMUSE.com

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  18. I know I can always learn something interesting about art when I come to your site. I am loving those vases.

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  19. It's so sad how many artists have tragic lives. Love the butterfly vase.

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  20. Interesting post! Great works!!!

    NEW OUTFIT POST
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  21. What a beautiful post with super shots :) Love your blog
    Would you like to follow each other ?

    Love
    Shilpi
    www.pinkjasminestyling.com

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  22. Wow these pieces are so original and different and that bed is insane! Have a great weekend!
    xo
    Sharon

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  23. really interrestin post dear¡¡¡ xoxo

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  24. Another wonderful history lesson Kizzy! WOW..this is just amazing. What a talented artist!

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  25. What beautiful work! There is a sense of sadness in some of them, but they are still lovely!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  26. wow glad i stumbled across this post, it was definitely an interesting read! the art nouveau period is quite inspirational:)

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  27. You always have such interesting posts. These pieces are beautiful.

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  28. wow that bed is something!! Love the way art was translated into every day objects!

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  29. I don't know a lot about art, but this was really interesting! Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading this! :)

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  30. Beautiful post ! I'm a huge fan of Art Nouveau !!
    http://selenite.weebly.com

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  31. Oh wow! that is such an interesting read,
    thanks for the info and facts...
    really enjoyed reading this post and looking at those images.

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  32. Wonderful creations!!!
    Have a nice weekend :)

    xx

    www.sickbytrend.com

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  33. im LOVING this post! The house hold items are simply amazing and works of art all on their own. I love the butterfly bedframe! Oh and thanks for the lovely comment on my newest post! You are welcome to head on over anytime!

    -Nico

    www.SatinAndSalt.com

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  34. OH! I forgot to tell you about that pouf! I have been wanting one SO bad. The one photographed is not my favorite style but I can't afford those 300 dollar ones! I found the one featured on my blog on ebay for 40 dollars, no joke! You should stalk moroccan poufs on ebay, there are deals to be found!

    -Nico

    www.SatinAndSalt.com

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  35. I love this period in art... Furniture is always so beautiful!

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  36. Amazing art, very inspiring
    shana-style.blogspot.com

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  37. Absolutely amazing pieces of artwork!
    hugs from New York,
    xx
    Ask Erena
    http://askerena.blogspot.com/

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  38. this jugendstil bed is a dream!!!!

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de

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  39. I truly love hearing the story behind the person. He stood up for what was RIGHT!!! I hate when people penalize others for doing that. It's like taking away a piece of the person. So sad how he died. Great works! So glad the other man was eventually exonerated. Thanks for sharing Kizzy!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  40. I love his work. I've seen it at the museum in Nancy and it was absolutely amazing... Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Bisous xo

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  41. I also love Art Nouveau! Didn't know this artist before but really like his work!

    Lau

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  42. wow the glasswork is sooo incredible!!!! absolutley beautiful :)

    katslovefashion.blogspot.com

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  43. I think his works (and story) is very inspiring and love the details throughout his works. -xx

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  44. Just love the gorg glassware. Just stunning . . . .


    oxoxoxo from San Francisco
    Amy
    http://bridechic.blogspot.com

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  45. Kizzy you are a teacher and an artist. God graces each of us with many gifts, can you imagine if we crafted each one to his(Galle's) degree? I can't imagine living in his world and being able to create like that. What a legacy to have left behind. What legacy and imprint will we leave? Makes me wonder, maybe I should be doing something more incredible. I read your interview of questions when you were tagged, dive right in stuck out in my mind. I so need to dive right in. Great interview. Have a great day! dawn suitcase vignettes xo

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