This is the painting that lured me to the exhibit.
The Convalescent -1872
This young woman’s housecoat, patterned yellow pillow and tropical plants were introduced to Europe via colonial conquests in the southern hemisphere.
Juxtaposed to these items that signify the speed of travel, trade and fashion are the middle class woman’s long slow hours of recuperating health.
The Seasons
Tissot drew on the art historical tradition of women and natural cycles; ie. young women and spring.
Ippitsusai Buncho (Japanese, active 1765 – 1792), Kabuki. Segawa Kikunojo in female role of Ohatsu in“Yoni Osaka Nitsuino Myoto”
The elongated form, and stylized blades of grass in the foreground shows the influence of Japanese woodblock prints.
Spring Morning (1878)
Spring (1878)
Limiting the number of prints to a plate (which adds value through scarcity) was unusual prior to the second half of the 1800’s.
The simplest way to cancel a run is to rut the metal plate with deep lines.
PRINTS MADE BEFORE & AFTER PLATE CANCELLATION
Summer (1878)
October (1878)
“He also depicted women in current fashions, presenting them as both timeless and contemporary.”
Despite the racial diversity of Europe at the time, Tissot’s artworks focus on white women.
The Thames
This image of a naval officer cruising the polluted Thames River with 2 women (Must be prostitutes!) was deemed “thoroughly and willfully vulgar”by a critic.
The Thames (1876)
The British saw this as immoral French art, which included Impressionism.
Emigrants (1880)
Tissot captured the global flow at bustling ports along the Thames.
This print highlights the artist’s expertise in capturing nautical scenes.
Tissot had an infinitude for portraying women in ambiguous situations.
This emigrant woman leaving a ship with her baby makes one wonder where her journey will lead.
Souvenirs of the Siege of Paris
This collection recounts Tissot’s time as a sharpshooter with The French National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War (1870 – 1871)
Foyer of the Comédie-Française, Recollection of the Siege of Paris (1877)
Tissot’s images of dead or ailing men depict specific historical events and locations. They were viewed by Victorians as accurate reportage.
La Frileuse
Kathleen Newton (1854 – 1882)
Kathleen Turner was a young Irish divorcée and mother, who lived with Tissot in London until her early death at 28 from tuberculosis. Tissot often used her as a model.
Iterations of the same pose
Tissot’s prints were affordable, attracting middle-class and international buyers. His Victorian themes were adored and his prints circulated the globe, amassing the artist a small fortune.
The Women of Paris
Following the death of Kathleen in 1882, Tissot returned to Paris.
Tissot exhibited 15 paintings and a corresponding print series of modern Parisian women from different social classes, each accompanied by a short essay by a prominent French writer.
Critics panned the show as behind the times. They claimed he painted “the same Englishwoman” repeatedly.
“Following the critical failure of his exhibition, Tissot never focused on the theme ofmodern womanhood again.”
Tissot, a name I hadn’t heard much. Then the AGO announced an exhibit featuring their collection of 2 oil paintings, 1 watercolour and 30 etchings on paper.
A Most Enchanting Day at the AGO
The Fashionable Beauty (1885)
There were several variations of the “Fashionable Beauty”
This one was from the hip up.
Some were more whispy, some more dense
Camera on portrait stage setting
In the last decades of the nineteenth century, James Tissot portrayed women within the contradictions of the period.
Political Woman (1885)
Modernity via the speed of travel, fashion and commodity culture is juxtaposed with the constraint of women’s every day lives.
Flaunting the “Masculine” Realm
The Newspaper (1883)
A well dressed woman reads a newspaper. The fashionable Japanese-influenced wallpaper lining the wall informs of her engagement with the outside world & knowledge of trends.
Fashion magazines and novels were appropriate for Victorian women.
Newspapers were linked to men, as they symbolized factual knowledge and interest in global politics. Although, the image below depicts another reason a woman would read a newspaper.
Without a Dowry (1885)
The above image portrays a young woman and her mother in a Parisian park. The black clothing suggests they are mourning a male relative, and are without a dowry. The daughter sits in an available position, while the mother searches the newspapers for marriage offers.
Dreaming (1881)
More About the Artist
“Best known for his paintings of fashionable figures, Tissot began his career in Paris. While he turned down Edgar Degas’s invitation to exhibit with the impressionists, he shared the groups desire to portray scenes of modern life in an innovative style. He moved to London in 1871 after fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, and became a popular painter of Victorian scenes, particularly those showing young women in typically modern moments, before returning to France in 1882.” – Art Gallery of Ontario
Portico – National Gallery, London (1878)
Moral Ambiguity, a Central Theme
Sunday Morning (1883)
A well dressed young woman walks to church holding a bible. Her raised eyebrows and tentative gaze pose the question, does she need to atone for her sins, or is she nervous about being late for service?
Horizontal women’s bodies were lubricous from a voyeuristic perspective.
Slumbering female figures had erotic connotations in the Victorian Era, especially in semi-conscious states like dreaming or sleeping.
The Fan (1876)
Now discredited – The below woman’s twisted hand was indicative of the pathological disorder – hysteria. This “chic” female disease was considered fashionably feminine and modern.
Sleeping Woman (1876)
The moral ambiguity of Tissot’s images was integral to their popular appeal.
British critics claimed they were too, risqué, too French.
The Hammock (1880)
A Personal Fascination
Other than the title, I know only that the etching below is in the Hippodrome (ℹ︎ Met Museum site). I was mesmerized by it. All that skin makes the costumes seem so modern and the Statue of Liberty crowns were piquing.
The Ladies of the Chariots (1885)
I can’t get everything into 1 post, so there will be a Tissot – II. In the meantime, I leave you with a shot of the 1 watercolour with gouache on paper.
Waiting (late 1800’s)
The young girl’s bored stare, pale skin, under eye circles with oversized bonnet and gloves (highlighting weight loss) suggest tuberculosis.
“Consumption” was coined a term, as it consumed patients, and ate away bodies.
The plan was to read an advance copy of Detour on the Eternal Road, do some drawings of Sam and do a pre-release promo post. Well,I “took a wrong turn in Albuquerque“, hit a detour and missed the print release.
So the road trip, of a post lifetime, passes through Albuquerque? Well, no, but it does pass through 1881!
Resa – John, Detour on the Eternal Roadis set in the past, present and possible future of earth’s history and in the possible eternality of existence. You animate eternity’s goings on with non-haloed, wingless angels helping to guide souls to their eternal home. The adventures are informative, but mostly harrowing. Yet, through “it all”*, the message remains uprightly positive. I’m not talking about the ending, per se, but the body of your story. Is this purposeful, or unconscious?
John – I have always carried a positive attitude regarding life. It is no surprise to me that this comes through in my writing even in the most dire of circumstances. You mention the ending which I don’t want to spoil for folks is an example of this positivity. It does rain a question about how much responsibility each of us has to take for the existence of evil on this Earth.
Hello! I’m Sam. When not on the road guiding souls to their eternal home, I’m at home on my cloud.
CLOUD WEAR is a custom wardrobe designed especially for me by Resa, who at this point remains earthbound.
Resa – Do you, or did you ever have a crush on Sam?
John – Sam is an agglomeration of every woman for whom I have had the honor of having feelings. Of course, I love her.
PRESENTING – CLOUD WEAR
1. Windy Day (sun dial on wrist) - 2. Grecian Ode - 3. Rock'n'Roll Angel - 4. Fortune Teller - 5. Dream Away - 6. Honey7. Surprise! (all blue beads and earrings made from dew and raindrops)
Resa – Without preaching any religion, you metaphorize good and bad/evil with god and the devil. In the story our protagonists, Sam and James angels, are presented moral dilemmas. What say you to the idea that I think you are speaking to man’s “better angels”?
John – I think you have figured out the fact that I believe there are angels that walk among us. I also believe we all have inside of us the ability to behave as if we have been anointed with title ‘angel.’ On the corresponding side we all can be perfect devils at times. The control of the dominate characteristic is left up to how we were raised and our perception of what constitutes goodness.
Resa – So John, this is the third book in the Eternal Road series. I’ve read the first two and this one seems, in its fictional light, more politically predictive than the other books. It seems a pejorative on the future, on behalf of mankind’s progeny. Can you speak to that?
John – Since my books are written in the present tense it might appear as if there is a perjoritive view as the reader moves through the action. Quite the contrary the story attempts to provide human kind with a tool that can be used to continue the species forever. Yes we have to look at nuclear war as a possibility, but the essence of the story which is repeated is that all mayhem is preventable.
The one pejorative view that I will raise my hand to is the increasing dependence the average person has on Government. I believe in the government being representative of the people and not an entity that exists for itself.
“Lincoln’s Bedroom” in the White House.
What does this have to do withDetour on the Eternal Road? We go to the White House?
Yes, but which wing and what rooms ?
Below – A Made to Scale Replica of the East Wing
The replica is 60 feet long & 20 feet wide. The Artists, Historian John Zweifel and his wife Jan, took 25 years to complete it. It includes all furnishings. The clocks tick, flags wave, phone rings and TV’s work.
Looks fab when you enlarge it!
On Its 200th Birthday in 1992 –This to scale replica of the East Wing of the White House was presented in a special issue of LIFE magazine.
1 - First Lady's Dressing Room 2 - President's Bedroom 3 - Family Sitting Room 4 - Yellow Oval Room 5- Treaty Room 6 - Lincoln Bedroom 7 - Lincoln Sitting Room 8 - State Dining Room 9 - Red Room 10 - Blue Room 11. Green Room 12 - East Room 13- Library 14 - Map Room 15 - Diplomatic Reception Room 16 - China Room 17 - Vermeil Room
On the Left: Legend to all 17 rooms in the East Wing
I think you can enjoy this book without reading its predecessors. However, certain questions will come up, such as this question I asked John after I read the first book.
Resa – “Eyes are mentioned on almost every page, mostly due to travelling, but I could not find the colour of Sam’s eyes. I also searched brown, blue, hair…no luck. Thing is, I was thinking of drawing Sam as an angel, maybe no wings. This way I could do a gown.”
John – “You are not crazy. You won’t find a color of Sam’s eyes since I very seldom describe the characters in terms of physical attributes. My reason for doing this is I would rather the reader form an image in their mind of what the characters look like. So you can make her eye color whatever pleases you. She is more your character than mine since you invested your time reading the book. “
So, if you are thinking of jumping straight to book 3, you might want to read a few of the Amazon reviews on the first 2: Eternal Road &The Last Drive.OR read my Out-of-the box reviews.
Linens & laces inherited from great grandmother & grandmother to mother then her, became all mine; an Art Gown to share.
Her beauty holds memories of Victorian times, and the bright light of many tomorrows.
Victorian Sonnet is dedicated to Diana, her great grandmother Emilie, her grandmother Truly (Caroline), and and her mother Tineke (Dutch nickname for Anna Martine).
Sonnets from the Art Gowns
Structure
Iambic pentameter – 5 feet to a line – 4 lines to a verse – 3 verses & a couplet
Rhyme scheme – ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG
Third verse volta
I
Dear Diana your lace and your linen Great grand mother, grandma, mother then you Woven treasure fair sent passed on to begin Romance dance a dress white and blue.
Lace held, fabric draped inspiration gold Creation libation confusion strewn All threads gay with gathers theirs to unfold Ancestry, a love light shimmering through!
Yet should something arise break then the spell To find magic's construct tattered and torn Ere rendered fore tendered tossed into the swell Became fragments merely blithely left lorn.
Our memory painted lingers in mind, Inherited Victoriana's time.
When the fabrics arrived, I threw the lot on top of Lilac Fan Dance. There was also a fabulous mosquito net with cotton top.
There were various lace yardages2 delicate bed jackets
A huge lace tableclothLarge assortment of doilies & table covers
When the time came to begin, there was so much lace and linens, I needed to spread them all out.
All laces and fabrics were hand washed, and tested for tensile strength.
A bertha collar was formed from a bed jacket’s trim and lined with mosquito net.
An underskirt was cut from the cotton top of the netting.
Mosquito netting was added to the underskirt to make it full length. Lace cut from the lace tablecloth was sewn on top of the netting.
A blue linen jacquard tablecloth was formed into a corset shaped top with straps into a plunging back.
My friend Kat gifted me a new Judy, so I transferred the gown to her. She also sent massive yardage of new, but cut into, winter white synthetic curtain sheer, found for a pittance at the good will.
After washing, the sheer was cut into a 3 tiered overskirt, and trimmed with the lace yardages. The sheer makes a solid backing that fortifies the antique laces.
Two side tails were draped in bias from the sheer, then trimmed with edges cut from the lace tablecloth.
A third centre tail was draped from the mosquito netting on bias. This tail was trimmed with the last of the lace yardages. It was then filled in with geometrically placed doilies, table covers and bits of cut up lace edgings.
A bussel was formed from blue serviettes that matched the bodice’s tablecloth, and eyelet lace trim from the second bed jacket.
Vintage hand covered buttons adorn the bodice.
Voilà! Victorian Sonnet
She’s so beautiful, I went overboard taking pics.
OUTTAKES
Serendipity
November, 2023 – The 2 boxes arrived, from Diana. Lilac Fan Dance was still in the making. I knew Diana was mid book. In May, 2024 Victorian Sonnet was begun. 6+ months later, the gown and Diana’s book – Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver – were finished, more or less at the same time.
“Multi-genre author Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene presents her most mysterious, magical creation – the steampunk riverboat filled with enigmatic people and clockwork creatures.”
The cover Teagan designed is every bit as charming as the unbridled whimsy behind it.
A Gift of Steampunk Gowns
When I told Teagan I was making the post an Art Gowns special feature because of the glorious steampunk gowns, she created 4 original gown designs for the post! I am so excited.
FIRST - ALL ABOARD THE DELTA PEARL
In the early days of following Teagan’s blog, I participated in Teagan’s ‘Three Things” that readers suggest that helped drive her blog serials.
Resa – I can only remember leech barometer (pedestrian name). Do you have a list of what I contributed?
Teagan – I kept a matrix of the random reader things. Yours were: flat iron, Gibson Girl hairdo, Pince-nez, Tempest Prognosticator, brooch, crochet hook, rum, and jet (as in the gem or beads).
The Gibson Girl hairdo helped inspire the “look” of the character Eliza Needleman. Jet, I used to name the character of the apprentice librarian. Pince-nez exposed a bit of vanity for the secretly nearsighted chief porter, Garnet Redford when Eliza loaned him her pair to see something in the workings of her music box.
Emeraude on deck at night
I’m honoured to say I was gifted ebook copies of “The Illustrated Delta Pearl”. Unfortunately you can’t buy one. This is a tad sad, as Teagan’s images are magnificent.
Resa – So Teagan, why can’t others buy the illustrated versions of The Delta Pearl and The Geostrophic Pearl?
Teagan – I had almost finished the illustrated version where I made a gigantic number of images — when Amazon made a change to their policy regarding internal book images which didn’t allow mine. I didn’t want six months of work to go to waste. So, I gifted illustrated copies to a handful of people.
I felt like a kid reading the books. I could hardly wait for the next chapter’s picture.
Captain Cecil Perlog with Onyx Owl
Resa – How long … months … weeks did the serial run on your blog?
Teagan – I started writing (and “finished”) The Delta Pearl in 2016. However, I wasn’t satisfied with my work. Feeling the story needed a “middle,” I put it on my blog as a serial, getting 3 random reader things from followers, which inspired new content. To my delight, the story was warmly embraced. It seemed the “end” was really just the middle of the story, and serial episodes went on from there. The Delta Pearl was my longest running blog serial at about two years.
Resa – How long did it take to put The Delta Pearl & Geostrophic Pearl into book form?
Teagan – Hummm… I had several stops and starts, mostly with deciding how I wanted to format it. The serial episodes also had to be edited to adjust for “bookizing.” After it was finished, I decided to illustrate it, and that took another six months. Then of course, I had to start over again when Amazon changed their images policy. All in all, it took a couple of years.
Emeraude falling from height
Resa – What made you decide to create a duology?
Teagan – Several things 1) I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback about writing shorter length books, like the light-horror 1920s series “A Medium’s Peril.” (By the way, I plan to have a new novelette in that series ready for Halloween.)
2) The Delta Pearl was becoming a large manuscript when I started illustrating it, and my admittedly old computer was bogging down due to the manuscript size.
3) I could feel a distinct transition point in The Delta Pearl story-line when I started to reveal more about the riverboat. With those things in mind, I decided that it would be best as a duology (even though the manuscript became smaller when I had to remove the illustrations).
Victor and Emeraude ashore
Resa – Your visions of Steampunk are vivid, exciting and appealing, It is a sub culture even today. I’ll bet those involved in today’s steampunk would go wild over your images.
Teagan – You are so kind, Resa. Thanks, that means a lot to me. My take on steampunk is not really typical. It often has a dark, even sooty aesthetic, reflective of the coal-burning that created the steam-powered gizmos. The Delta Pearl is bright, whimsical, and opulent. I hope I managed to give the words the same feelings you got from the images, since they are not in the published version.
Resa – The words work beautifully!
Airship Geostrophic Pearl controls
Resa – What drew you into Steampunk?
Teagan – In steampunk and diesel-punk you’ll usually find odd contraptions, and misfit characters. I have always loved both, so I couldn’t resist
Jaspe -elegant Victorian man with a black cat
Resa – Okay, Jaspe is a heart throb, and you did great with his character. I think most females would fall for him. He loves cats. I should be head over heels.
Teagan – I think you might be right, Resa. LOL. I kept Jaspe an enigma throughout the story. I don’t want to fully define him even now, because that makes him more interesting, and it lets the individual reader have their way about precisely who or maybe even what the Dealer actually is. Whatever the case, Jaspe has a loving and loyal soul. Giving him a cat helped anchor that idea.
Victor
Resa – However, I developed a crush on Victor. What do you say to that?
Teagan – LOL. Victor is flattered, Resa. I was fond of so many of these characters. Most of them had little flaws, and that made me feel like a parent to all of them. Although, I have definitely had crushes on some of my characters! Especially Tajín in “Dead of Winter.” (Fans self) Ha-ave mercy!
Resa – Yes! “Ha-ave mercy! (Turns up air conditioning) I read 3 instalments, and I know who that is.
Glorious Steampunk Gowns by Teagan
It’s time to say good-bye. Think I’ll take the Steampunk Speedboat to shore.
Naptha launch steampunk speedboat
About Teagan
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s stories range from paranormal to high fantasy and urban fantasy, to whimsical versions of the various types of “punk,” to mysteries with historic settings… and anything else that strikes her fancy.
AND there is much more. To read ” Who is Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene” just click on the above image of Teagan and Onyx Owl!
Click on above pic of Emeraude annoyed by Obsidian to read a description and logline of the books
To buy The Delta Pearl Duology on Amazon, click on the books above!
With Hallowe’en coming up, A Medium’s Peril could be just what you’re looking for!
Dahlings, we are loving it up in Miami, Tim’s Magic Tree Sanctuary and around the world. I’m one radiating Ms. R., reporting from Ocean Drive, as I present Art Gowns for peace and love.
It’s an all out love fest, with special guest star Boogapony Holly, who will pony on down in roller skates. It’s a go-go like you’ve never seen! And now, from her special stage of TMTS* black bamboo, let’s all get down with MC, Art Director and palazzo pantonista , Rebecca Budd!
Thank you Rene!
As beautiful as the bougainvillea she poses by, AGM Marina wears a strapless, fishtail gown made from a pink-tone ecru velvet & recycled Ribbons for Peace.
P PINK E EMERALD A AQUA C CLAIRVOYANT E ECRU
Boogapony relays her message of love ,with movement, as she glides through the bougainvilleas.
Let’s hear it for Boogapony!
That was fantastic and so is Gigi. AGM Gigi tied on BP’s extra pair of skates, tore a strip out of her strapless skin-tight turquoise gown and rolled on down to Wynwood Walls,
What’s a Love-Up without some fringe? AGM Dale shows in a red gown with heart shaped décolletage and asymmetric plunging v-bodice with fringe at its point. Watch out! With bougainvillea hearts, she’s going to “take you higher”!
Now, for an important message from Ms. R.!
Dahlings, there was a slight glitch trying to get AGM Shey over to Miami. DracGoth made yet another attempt to morph Shey into SheyGoth, and transport her to Otherworld.
While suspended in black between worlds, Tim's Roses of Love surrounded her. They gently guided her to Princess Blue Holly's Tangle-Heart. AGM Shey passed through the Heart in darkness, and surfaced by her golden tree in the light
Thank you Rene!
Wow, seems Shey’s tree sent her to Miami with some enchanted roses. As the roses change colour, so do the roses on her boho, sheer voile angel gown. This is Flower Power at its finest!
And now, from the Florida Room of her ocean view home: with the sand, ocean, sky and sea birds behind her and surrounded by one of Tim’s roses in many spellbound colours here’s RR with a parting message!
Dahlings, Sweet Dreams until Art Gowns & friends returns with another extravaganza! Until then, remember to Love-Up everyday, everywhere!
Here’s a FAB send-off featuring Boogapony skating a go-go through Ocean Drive! Check out those crazy high jumps
All of the AGMs had a dedicated Art Gown, except Dale.
The only way to quell the turmoil was to whip up a gown. I figured four, five months tops.
Seven months later, Lilac Fan Dancewas dreaming out of the Art Gowns atelier window.
The ruffly lace tail had become a total diva during its construction. What figured to be done in 3-4 hours took 3-4 weeks.
It was the same time consuming issues I’d encountered making the fans for Diane Lane in “The Big Town”.
It began with an 80’s floral print fabric draped on Judy. Surrounded with acetates, a sheer and lace harvested from “Atlantis Mermaid Love-In”, inspiration struck .
The harvested lace was not enough to fulfill my idea, so old lace curtain scraps were painted with acrylics inherited from my F-i-L. The dates on the tubes were from the 1990’s.
Once dry the paint was heat set, the lace cut into creative shapes and randomly gathered. The 3d lace pieces were strewn behind the gown, and it was evident backing yardage was required.
A strip of white curtain sheer left over from Belle Grâcewas blotch painted with the remainder of the purple paint.
Suddenly, the day became dark and filled with the peal of Thunder.
Memories flooded in and I could see…
Diane Lane waiting on my front porch. She’d come to check out her fans.
Romanticized by the idea of the Burlesque circuit, Lilac Fan Dance built a fan out of peach blossoms from Dale’s peach tree on Tim’s magic tree sanctuary.
Unable to dance due to that she had wheels instead of legs, no arms of her own and no head,
…. she borrowed some of Mae West’s jokes and did a stand-up.
Happy with her time as an entertainer, but tired of life on the road, Lilac Fan Dance returned home.
“Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” -Mae West
Art Gowns 
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