FRENCH VINTAGE ART
Édouard Bénédictus (1878-1930) was a French chemist, inventor and artist best known for his accidental discovery and development of “laminated glass” in the early 20th century. In 1910, Benedictus discovered the first plastic when he accidentally dropped a flask containing cellulose nitrate and a plasticizer. He named the material “Celluloid” and patented the method of its production in 1911. In the years that followed, Benedictus developed new plastics, including “Vynide” and “Vuillaume”, which were used in the production of a variety of products, including films and photographic plates.
In addition to his scientific pursuits, Benedictus was also an acclaimed artist, creating sculptures, sketches and paintings that featured his unique style of abstract expressionism. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1924 for his contributions to the arts.
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
Édouard Bénédictus as a French painter and art theorist, was best known for his work Variations Quatre-Vingt-Six Motifs Décoratifs En Vingt Planches (1928). He trained at the École des Beaux-Arts. He was an early advocate of Cubism and was associated with the avant-garde Parisian art scene of the 1920s. Bénédictus believed that abstract art could be generated through mathematical systems, and he developed a theory of “Plastic Geometry” to explain his ideas.
His beautiful color palettes and geometric floral motifs earned him commissions from leading European design firms. In 1925, he was invited to participate as an Art Deco textile designer, in the Pavillion de l’Ambassade Française, at the important Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. His work had a profound influence on international trends in clothing, home furnishings, graphic design, and decorative objects, and is held in the collections of such establishments as the Musee d’Orsay, Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, the Library of Congress, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Minneapolis Museum of Art.
His book Variations Quatre-Vingt-Six Motifs Décoratifs En Vingt Planches (1928) was a compilation of eighty-six abstract motifs which he used to demonstrate his theories. The book was widely acclaimed and is still seen as an important work in the development of abstract art. Bénédictus’ other works include paintings, drawings, and prints, often featuring geometric and abstract shapes. He is considered to be an important figure in the development of abstract art in the twentieth century. Benedictus died in 1930 at the age of 52.
“Variation 20” from Edouard’s book is the inspiration behind the first collection from the “Vintage Art Series”.
There are five beautiful seamless patterns in the French Vintage Art collection, all digitally derived from “Variation 20”. They are tiled in an octagon pattern. Each design features a muted palette of soft grey, teal, and orange with black and white accents. They have a lacey, feminine feel to them. In keeping with the original artwork, the designs have a distinct Art Deco style. T
The designs are available across a wide range of products both here in-store and in the Urban Pixel co, Redbubble store. A sneak peak at some of the products are shown below.
The high resolution, seamless patterns are also available for purchase in-store, as a digital download. All patterns are suitable for both personal and commercial use. However they cannot be resold as your own.
🌸 Available on Redbubble
🌸 Available in store
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Art Deco Style Bookmarks$4.00 – $4.50
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Art Deco Printable Bookmarks – Set of 5$4.50
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Set of 4 Art Deco Style Bookmarks$5.95