Isabella Ducrot, a devoted student of transverse threads for numerous years, found inspiration in 2018 from the weft patterns in Simone Martini's 1333 masterpiece, "Annunciation," exhibited at the Uffizi in Florence. Her fascination lay in the intricate details often overlooked by historical analysis.
Ducrot's artwork, a product of her detailed study, has been showcased in galleries across New York, Cologne, and Berlin. Recently, these works have found a new platform on the Dior fashion runway, thanks to the brand's artistic director, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Chiuri's efforts to refresh the image of the French fashion house include embracing female artists with a flair for fashion, making Ducrot, a 93-year-old artist from Naples, an ideal collaborator.
Ducrot, who was only recognized late in her career by Galerie Giselle Capitain, has been a familiar name among certain elite art circles. She was an acquaintance of Cy Twombly and the Italian designer Federico Forquet, and her marriage to an Italian tour operator enabled her extensive travels through the Middle East and Asia, fueling her fascination with Eastern-origin textiles.
Chiuri mentioned that her attraction to Ducrot's work stemmed from the Italian artist's allusions to Ottoman imperial attire, known for its exaggerated and distorting proportions.
For the Dior event in Paris, Ducrot took on the role of scenographer, creating a striking checkerboard scene with oversized dresses that echoed bygone eras. Chiuri noted in her pre-show comments that Ducrot's work explores the intricate connection "between the body and dress."
Selena Mattei