Portrait of Sophie Gimbel
Online Access
Available digital items: https://digital.archives.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/objects/KA011301_kOSxxx3_f03_01.
Abstract
Fashion illustration by René Robert Bouché depicting American fashion designer Sophie Gimbel. The illustration appeared in the April 15, 1961 issue of American Vogue with the caption, "Sophie's sari tactics for short evenings." A framed reproduction of this illustration hung at the entrance to Parson School of Design's Adam and Sophie Gimbel Design Library on West 13th Street. The portrait was taken down upon the 2014 closure of Gimbel Library.
Dates
- circa 1961
Creator
- Bouché, René, 1905-1963 (Artist, Person)
- Vogue (New York) (Publisher, Organization)
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 illustration (18 1/2 x 25 inches))
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Content of Collection
Fashion illustration by René Robert Bouché depicting American fashion designer Sophie Gimbel. The illustration appeared in the April 15, 1961 issue of American Vogue with the caption, "Sophie's sari tactics for short evenings." Signed "RRB" in upper right-hand corner. A framed reproduction of this illustration hung on a column at the entrance to Parson School of Design's Adam and Sophie Gimbel Design Library on the 2nd floor of 2 West 13th Street. The portrait was taken down on the event of the 2014 closure of Gimbel Library.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.
This collection is also available online through The New School Archives Digital Collections database.
Use Restrictions
To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New Shool Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu.
Biographical note
Sophie Gimbel (1898-1981) was a stylist and fashion designer for Saks Fifth Avenue's Salon Moderne before marrying Saks' president, Adam L. Gimbel, in 1931. After their marriage, she continued designing under her own label. In 1947, she became the first American fashion designer featured on the cover of Time magazine and, in 1965, she designed Lady Bird Johnson's gown for President Lyndon B. Johnson's inauguration. She retired from Saks Fifth Avenue in 1969. Beginning with its 1974 dedication, the art and design library of Parsons School of Design was named for Adam and, later, Sophie Gimbel.
René Robert Bouché was born in Prague, but spent much of his professional career in France. He was widely associated with French Vogue magazine, for which he contributed fashion illustrations until 1941, when he immigrated to the United States. Bouché continued contributing to American Vogue, in addition to illustrating advertisements for Saks Fifth Avenue and CBS. He was also a sought-after portraitist. René Robert Bouché died in England in 1963.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Helen O'Hagen, Saks Fifth Avenue executive, 1997.
- Drawings (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Fashion designers -- United States -- 20th century -- Pictorial works (Subject) (Places) (Temporal) (Type of Material) Subject Source: Local sources
- Fashion drawing (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fashion illustration. (Subject) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Fashion illustrations (layout features) (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Fashion illustrators (Occupation) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Gimbel, Sophie (Depicted) -- Pictorial works
- Portraits (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Saks Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
- Title
- Guide to the Portrait of Sophie Gimbel
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- New School Archives and Special Collections Staff
- Date
- April 29, 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin