Saint Louis' latest production offers a unique blend of art, automobiles, and high-end clothing style.
The Saint Louis Art Museum is currently hosting an enchanting exhibition that transports visitors back to the vibrant and stylish era between 1918 and 1939 - a time often referred to as the 'Roaring Twenties' and '30s. The exhibition, titled 'Roaring: Art, Fashion, and the Automobile in France, 1918-1939', showcases the intersection of Gallic art, fashion, culture, and the automobile during this period, with a focus on luxury.
This exhibit offers a captivating exploration of the relationships between the creative and economic spheres, demonstrating how the avant-garde impacted on car design and fashion. The show presents over 100 works that illustrate the fusion of avant-garde principles with both automotive design and contemporary fashion, emphasising sleek, modern lines, artistic experimentation, and a forward-looking approach to luxury and style.
The exhibition features ten cars from the era, including a trio of Bugattis, an Alfa Romeo, Talbot-Lago, and a unique 1937 Type 135MS Special Roadster with a Hermès leather interior. Clothes designed by Sonia Delaunay and Jacques Heim are also on display, as well as decorative objects like the iconic bent wood Thonet armchair and fashion by Lanvin, Chanel, House of Worth, and more.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the Aries Torpedo car, designed by Sonia Delaunay, which is showcased alongside models in an image on display. Other rare models in the exhibition include the Bugatti Type 41 Royale and the 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupe.
The Pavillon des Renseignements et du Tourisme in Paris served as the backdrop for some of the exhibition's images, which were taken during the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, known as the cradle of the art deco movement. This exhibition charts the shift from fussy Edwardian attire to pared back, almost unisex clothes, from beach pyjamas to austerely beautiful jackets and evening dresses.
Delahaye, Bugatti, Talbot, and Hispano-Suiza were the haute couturiers of the motor industry during this period, embodying avant-garde ideals through innovative forms, aerodynamic shapes, and artistic elegance. The focus of the exhibition is on luxury, with the automobiles serving as both subjects and objects.
'Roaring' positions its collection of ten star cars as both subjects and objects, reflecting the era’s cutting-edge creative spirit. The exhibition is a testament to the dynamic dialogue between art and industry, where avant-garde aesthetics found a prestigious platform in both high fashion and automobile manufacture—a dual showcase of style and innovation.
Visitors to the Saint Louis Art Museum can immerse themselves in this richly stylish era until July 27, 2025. The 'Roaring' exhibition brings back to life the brief but richly stylish era between 1918 and 1939, offering a glimpse into a time when art, fashion, and the automobile were intertwined in a dazzling display of luxury and modernism.
The exhibition, 'Roaring: Art, Fashion, and the Automobile in France, 1918-1939', at the Saint Louis Art Museum, not only showcases Gallic art and culture, but also delves into the realms of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden, with decorative objects like the bent wood Thonet armchair, and clothing from illustrious designers such as Sonia Delaunay, Lanvin, Chanel, House of Worth, among others. Additionally, the exhibition highlighting the 'Roaring Twenties' and '30s, features ten cars, including cars from renowned brands like Delahaye, Bugatti, Talbot, and Hispano-Suiza, demonstrating the intersection of the automotive industry with the world of cars.
