Renowned Belgian Artist Isabelle de Borchgrave Passes Away
Isabelle de Borchgrave, celebrated for her innovative paper costumes inspired by historical figures and fashion, died last October at the age of 78, generating significant attention within the art community worldwide. De Borchgrave gained international acclaim for her unique ability to create life-size reproductions of period garments using only paper, a talent that began to flourish after a transformative visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1994, reports 24brussels.
Born Isabelle Jacobs in Etterbeek, Belgium, in 1946, de Borchgrave’s artistic journey began while she managed a fashion and interior design studio in Brussels. The shock of encountering an 18th-century fashion exhibition ignited her passion for historical garments and the desire to replicate them.
Returning to Belgium, she began to experiment with paper, utilizing materials such as craft paper and patterns used by dressmakers to replicate the soft textures of fabrics. “Paper gives you freedom,” she remarked in an interview, emphasizing its durability compared to fabric.
De Borchgrave’s work gained public attention in 1998 with her exhibition “Papiers à la Mode” at the Musée de l’Impression sur Etoffes in France. This exhibition highlighted her collaboration with costume designer Rita Brown, featuring 300 years of fashion history, including recreations of costumes worn by iconic figures like Marie Antoinette and Coco Chanel.
Her growing recognition led to notable commissions, such as the replication of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding gown in paper for Marshall’s department store in Chicago in 2004.
Artistic Contributions and Legacy
Throughout her career, de Borchgrave worked on various influential projects that highlighted historical fashion. Her second and third major collections explored Italian fashion history, while one of her later collections, “Les Ballets Russes,” celebrated the iconic ballet company.
In her final collection, “Miradas de Mujeres,” inspired by artist Frida Kahlo, de Borchgrave created an immersive universe using over 4 kilometers of paper, showcasing her dedication to translating Kahlo’s world through her art.
De Borchgrave also engaged in collaborations with leading fashion brands and continued to paint and sculpt throughout her career. Her works included designs for wallpaper and tableware, establishing her as a versatile artist in multiple mediums.
Married to Count Werner de Borchgrave d’Altena in 1975, she embraced the title of countess, although she reportedly did not frequently use it. The legacy left by de Borchgrave, through her groundbreaking work with paper fashion, continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
