The Edwardian Era was a time of affluence and elegance coinciding
with the Art Nouveau movement and the work of Alphonse Mucha. Known for his graceful, decorative depictions
of beautiful women surrounded by swirling botanical motifs, Mucha is perhaps
the most beloved and imitated artist of the Belle Epoque. My Bad Girls series pays
homage to Mucha’s glorious style but explores the darker side of Edwardian
women.
Probably the most obvious way for any woman to go
wrong is through prostitution, and La Prostituée (The
Prostitute) gives us a bold example, partially nude and displaying
her floor-length hair in a self-consciously seductive pose inspired by
legendary Instagram model Floor Length Frankie.
L’Empoisonneuse (The
Poisoner) acknowledges the timeless appeal to women of poisoning as a way
to commit murder. This poisoner is
surrounded by the tools of her trade:
hemlock around her head, yellow datura flowers on either side, spotted Amanita Muscaria
mushrooms in the background, and the deadly white Amanita Phalloides
mushroom on the little table beside
her. The model for this poisoner is,
once again, the lovely Floor Length Frankie.
The flourishing opium trade of the late 19th and early 20th centuries ensnared women as well as men. La Fumeuse D’Opium (The Opium Smoker) presents a nude addict reclining in a drug-induced stupor with the opium pipe still in her hand.
The worst outcome for any Bad Girl is
the mortal sin of death by her own hand.
La Suicidée (The Suicide) presents an aerial view
of a young woman who has opened her veins in the bath. The model for this scene is the Instagram
star Serena.
