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Louis Icart was bom in Toulouse, France, in 1888. He lived with his family in this picturesque southern French city where he absorbed all the culture Toulouse had to offer. As a result, Icart developed a great love for the visual and performing arts. He soon met Leon Pavi, who was an editor at La Critique Theatricale, a Parisian theatre monthly, and it was then that Icart was introduced to the world of French fashion. He began illustrating for major design studios when the fussiness of the late 19th century was being replaced with more clingy, simple lines. This paralleled the transition that was taking place in the art world, from the traditional to more progressive movements. In 1914, Icart met Fanny Volmers, who eventually became his wife and model for many of his etchings. Icart primarily created images of beautiful, elegant women in extravagant poses. In the mid 1920's, Icart's popularity soared, and the images he created then are now considered to be "classic Icart". Icart was in his prime depicting glamorous women in settings that ranged from tame to risque. In the 1930's, Icart's work became more imaginative and powerful with bursts of color. The women portrayed were more independent and provocative, no longer a passive spectacle. In 1950, Icart died in his home in Monmartre in Paris. His work, however, has never lost its appeal and popularity. Remarkably, the Icart women remain as charming and enchanting today as they did in the 1920's. |