Charlotte Perriand: Photography to interior design

Art brut vertèbre de poisson
The inspiration photograph: ’Art brut vertèbre de poisson’ by Charlotte Perriand, 1933
(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

There's been many a show of modernist master Charlotte Perriand's work but none that taps into her mind quite like the Petit Palais' current offering in Paris. Focusing on the part photography played in the making of her work, it takes us right to the source of her designs, placing inspiration shots and realised products side by side.

From the fish bones that prompted her 'Banquette Tokyo' to the reclining figure that inspired her 'Chaise Longue Basculante', the photographs lay bare her creative process. Perriand began using photography for preliminary studies from the moment she joined the Le Corbusier/Pierre Jeanneret studio as furniture design associate in 1928, looking at the 'laws of nature' in urban and mountain contexts, and many of the 380 photographs show objects discovered on her many walks.

'The most important thing to realise is that what drives the modern movement is a spirit of enquiry,' she once said. 'It's a process of analysis and not a style.' The Petit Palais exhibition certainly shows an inquisitive mind - someone with a keen eye for the world around her. Perriand was also the first designer to use photography as an integral part of her furniture and interior design projects, as the show reveals.

Chaise Ombre by Charlotte Perriand,1954

... and the final product: 'Chaise Ombre' by Charlotte Perriand, 1954. Edition Cassina. 

(Image credit: Photography: Cassina, ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Arête de poisson

The inspiration photograph: 'Arête de poisson' by Charlotte Perriand, 1933.

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Banquette Tokyo by Charlotte Perriand, 1954

Banquette Tokyo by Charlotte Perriand, 1954

(Image credit: Photography: Cassina, ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Art Brut Grès plage Normandie vers

The inspiration photograph: 'Art Brut Grès plage Normandie vers' by Charlotte Perriand, 1935. 

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Table Basse by Charlotte Perriand, 1984

... and the final product: 'Table Basse' by Charlotte Perriand, 1984 Collection Musée des Arts décoratifs. 

(Image credit: Photograph: Pernette Perriand-Barsac, ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Paysanne corse

The Inspiration photograph: 'Paysanne corse' by Charlotte Perriand, 1937.

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Chaise longue bambou

... and the final product: 'Chaise longue bambou' by Charlotte Perriand, 1940 ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Immeuble de l’Armée du Salut en construction, vers

The inspiration photograph:'Immeuble de l’Armée du Salut en construction, vers' by Charlotte Perriand, 1931.

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Meuble de séparation

... and the final product: 'Meuble de séparation' by Charlotte Perriand, 1954. 

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Pont à poutrelle by Charlotte Perriand, 1933

The inspiration photograph: 'Pont à poutrelle' by Charlotte Perriand, 1933.

(Image credit: Photography: Charlotte Perriand. ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

Table Gigogne by Charlotte Perriand, 1951

... and the final product: 'Table Gigogne' by Charlotte Perriand, 1951 Edition Cassina.

(Image credit: Photography: Cassina, ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011)

Table Gigogne by Charlotte Perriand, 1951

'Table Gigogne' by Charlotte Perriand, 1951
Edition Cassina. 

(Image credit: Photography: Cassina, ©AChP_ADAGP, Paris 2011.)

The lady herself: 'Charlotte Perriand en Savoie, vers 1930'

The lady herself: 'Charlotte Perriand en Savoie, vers 1930'.

(Image credit: ©AChP)

ADDRESS

Petit Palais
City of Paris Fine Art Museum
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 Paris

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Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.