La Fontaine de Coquillages – Robe du soir de Paquin – George Barbier (1914) Vintage Fashion Poster


One of the most admired fashion illustrations of the early 20th century, this pochoir print by George Barbier was created in March 1914 as Plate 27 for the prestigious Parisian fashion magazine Gazette du Bon Ton — and it remains a masterpiece of Art Deco elegance nearly 110 years after its creation.


The Image – A Shell Fountain and a Paquin Gown


The scene is both mythological and fashionable: an elegant woman in a shimmering evening gown by the house of Paquin stands at a fountain in the Jardin du Luxembourg, holding a large seashell up to the cascading water. The gown — described in the original title as a robe du soir de Paquin — is rendered in Barbier's signature jewel-bright palette, its fabric appearing to glow like the inside of a shell. The figure is thought to be inspired by Suzanne Lenglen, the celebrated French tennis champion who was the defining fashion icon of the era. The Maison Paquin, founded in 1891 by Jeanne Paquin, was one of the great Paris couture houses of the Belle Époque.


George Barbier – The Consummate Art Deco Illustrator


Born in Nantes in 1882, George Barbier came to Paris in 1908, studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and by 1911 had mounted his first solo exhibition, launching a career that would define the visual language of fashion illustration for two decades. His commissions ranged from the pages of Gazette du Bon Ton, Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar to theatre costume design for Sergei Diaghilev and collaborative work with the legendary Erté. His style — meticulous in detail, vibrant in colour, graceful in its depiction of the female form — became synonymous with Jazz Age Parisian luxury.


Gazette du Bon Ton and the Golden Age of Fashion Illustration


Published in Paris between 1912 and 1925, Gazette du Bon Ton was the most prestigious fashion periodical of its day — commissioning original pochoir illustrations from the greatest artists of the moment. Barbier was one of its star contributors, and his plates from this magazine are among the most collected images in fashion history.

The poster has been carefully digitally restored by an artist to remove any major signs of wear and tear and to refresh the original colours, retaining the vintage character of the poster.

COPYRIGHT:


For personal use only. You should not physically resell or digitally redistribute the artworks as originals nor as modified.

WHAT YOU WILL GET


You will receive a download link enabling you to access high-resolution JPEG files in multiple print ratios. Your link will expire in 14 days and can be used up to 3 times. Please contact us if you encounter any difficulties.

A 4×5 ratio file for printing 4×5″, 8×10″, 16×20″, 40×50cm.


A 3×4 ratio file for printing 6×8″, 9×12″, 12×16″, 18×24″.


A 2×3 ratio file for printing 4×6″, 6×9″, 8×12″, 10×15″, 12×18″, 16×24″, 20×30″, 24×36″.


An international paper size file for printing 5×7″, A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, 50×70cm.


A file for printing 11″×14″. https://gattoneropubs.com/product/la-fontaine-de-coquillages-robe-du-soir-de-paquin-george-barbier-1914-vintage-fashion-poster/