Charlotte Perriand is an artist who wasn’t given her due credit. She was a designer from France born in 1903 who mostly worked on “furniture, scale models, and photographs” (Luckel). She works with wood and metal for the development of these sculptures and pieces, but she has created a sense of genuineness, pragmatism, and aesthetics in her works, which stands out. Some of her famous works are “Nuage” Wall Shelf, Tokyo Bench, etc.
The concept of modernist notions was instilled in her from Le Corbusier’s works, which affected her work largely in the 1930s(Lutyens). She was mostly influenced by populist agendas and driven by communist viewpoints, making her approach to mass-production expansive (Wainwright). In more generic works, she started using cheaper materials and produced quality products.
Nevertheless, her place in history was not determined by the thought process but by simplicity and the inherent sexism in the industry. As she expressed her will to work with Le Corbusier in 1927, she received the response: “We don’t embroider cushions here”(Wainwright). This statement is demeaning to her work and indicates the ingrained sexism, as embroidery was attributed to women. Her association with co-workers caused her career to “largely eclipse” (Lutyens), explaining her unappreciated position.
Works cited
Luckel, Madeleine. “It’s Time to Rediscover Charlotte Perriand.” Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2019, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/charlotte-perriand-exhibition-fondation-louis-vuitton.
Lutyens, Dominic. “Charlotte Perriand: the Radical, Unsung Heroine of Design.” BBC Culture, BBC, 30 Oct. 2019, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191021-charlotte-perriand-the-radical-unsung-heroine-of-design.
Wainwright, Oliver. “Charlotte Perriand: The Design Visionary Who Survived Le Corbusier’s Putdowns.” The Guardian, 7 Oct. 2019, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/oct/07/charlotte-perriand-le-corbusier-design.
