LEPAPE Georges

French ( 1887 - 1971 )

Lepape studied at the Ateliers Humbert and Cormon and the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts and began his career as a posterist and advertising artist. In 1910, Lepape was commissioned by Paul Poiret to illustrate the follow-up to his very successful fashion album "Les Robes de Paul Poiret." Lepape's illustrations for "Les Choses de Paul Poiret" brought him instant fame and with that came many opportunities for other fashion assignments. He became a major Art Deco fashion illustrator with his work published in such leading Parisian periodicals as "Gazette du Bon Ton," "Journal Des Dames et Des Modes" and "Modes et Manieres d'Aujourd'hui." From 1920-1950 he contributed regularly to "Vogue," "Harper's Bazaar," "Femina," "House and Garden," "L'Illustration," Lu," and, "Vu" and also produced outstanding designs for sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes, examples of which can be seen in his books "Costumes de Theatre, Ballet et Divertissements," 1920 and ""L'Oiseau Bleu," 1925-27.