New Bella SPRING 2024: Barbizon & Helena
Even more so than the turn of a new year, we love the fresh, light energy that comes with the beginning of the spring season. Perhaps that’s why so many of our most colorful, fun and fan favorite Bella Mouldings have been introduced in the spring. (We see you Frida and Raku.)
This year is no different and we’re thrilled to debut three totally new lines. In order to introduce you to the first two, we need to take a moment and go back to school, so to speak.
Will you join us for a little Bella history lesson in order to meet Barbizon and Helena?
MEET BARBIZON
Our first lesson finds us in mid-19th century Europe where stylized and idealized depictions of figures and landscapes reigned supreme in the form of Neoclassicism.
Enter the famous Barbizon Art School. Active from roughly 1830 through 1870, the school took its name from the village of Barbizon, France where it helped to birth a larger European movement towards naturalism in art that we see so prevalently in the classic landscape painting.
The desire to capture things they saw truthfully and to paint in a naturalistic manner attracted a collection of artists who worked around the village of Barbizon - painting what they saw to faithfully reproduce the colors and forms of the countryside. The power of nature was a draw even then and inspired several generations of artists from Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Theodore Rousseau to Renoir and Manet.
This style of art that the Barbizon school produced emphasizes tonal qualities, color, loose brushwork and softness of form. All of which you can see reflected in our six new Barbizon profiles influenced by these works.
Available in a 15/16” Panel and a larger 1 ¾” Panel Scoop, the curated color palette draws from the rich colors of nature in the form of Ardoise Noir, Verdure Viridian and Creme de Sienne - all with a signature Bella flourish of gold included.
It’s obviously a no-brainer to frame up those stunning landscapes and pastoral scenes with Barbizon, but we find it works well on any art that has a flair of the romantic. Case in point, two vintage portraits that would look amazing hung side by side.
MEET HELENA
For lesson number two of your Bella history class, we’re going a bit further back and digging into one of the best known stories of Greek mythology. Helen of Troy was said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world, believed to be the daughter of Zeus himself and Leda.
Of course, she was also indirectly responsible for the Trojan War when she fled (or was kidnapped, depending on what version you believe) Sparta and her husband Menelaus for Troy with Paris, son of the Trojan king Priam.
Her beauty has inspired many artists over the course of history as the “face that launched a thousand ships.” So it’s no surprise that we too have chosen to pay homage to the great beauty of Helen with a collection of six new cap mouldings.
The flair of the ancient Greeks can be found in the profile’s unique coin design that lends it a striking, textural quality. Available in a range of hues from Prophecy Black, Lush Harvest Green, Deep Poseidon Blue, True Tyrian Purple, Rusted Cypress and Regal Linen - there’s no color combination you can’t make work with Helena.
For a little playful juxtaposition, we love seeing this historically-inspired frame on modern, sparkly pieces like sequined ice cream and a three-dimensional clutch.
SEE THE INSPIRATION FOR HELENA ON PINTEREST
Now that you’ve graduated Bella history class with flying colors, how will you use Barbizon and Helena in your own projects? We can’t wait to see! And stay tuned next week for one more brand new #bellaintroduction - our largest of the spring 2024 season!
