Simultaneous dress

Private collection.

Fabric patchwork.

Terk-Delaunay’s attention to how complementary colours react to each other was not limited to painting. The artist boldly applied this powerful technique to areas where such methods were not previously known – in the design of clothes and accessories, in the world of home decor items. She made a career in the design of dresses, outerwear, caps, swimwear, shoes, scarves and umbrellas. Her famous dress of 1913 is one of the earliest examples of unique “simultaneous” outfits. The colour scheme created by stitching pieces of fabric allows the dress to demonstrate the full range of the palette, including all primary (red, blue, yellow) and secondary (green, orange, purple) colours. Black on the back and collar was used to restrain the burst of colour. The artist designed this type of outfit for her friends, undoubtedly enhancing the visual effect of the movement of the dancers at Bal Bullier.