Balenciaga, Endurance in an Ephemeral World

The work of Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) displays a remarkable consistency. If haute couture came to be accepted as an art form in the twentieth century, it was largely thanks to him.

Balenciaga built up a system of perfect proportions around the female body, which he redefined with his work, using fabric, protected by that empty space which—as he explained— separates the body from the dress. His simplicity can neither be described nor copied. It is as mysterious as its creator, who walked a solitary path, exercising an even greater influence on his successors than on his contemporaries.