Items Similar to "Formal Dress Called <Of The Maghzen>", from "Costumes of Morocco"
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Jean Besancenot"Formal Dress Called <Of The Maghzen>", from "Costumes of Morocco"1942
1942
About the Item
"Costume du D'Apparat dit du Maghzen" translated to "Formal Dress Called " is plate number 14 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the people of Morocco from his series "Costumes du Maroc" ("Costumes of Morocco). The woman depicted here is dressed exquisitely and ornately in traditional formal clothing for the court of the sultan and his governing body, which was called the Makhzen but was rendered in French as Maghzen. Those who served in the court were called the moghzani, and they ruled where the sultanate did not delegate power to the tribal authorities.
Jean Besancenot's sixty plate reproduced and handcolored gouache on paper study on the diversity of Morocco's cultures is a work of stunning historical importance in tracing the rich and vibrant diversity of North Africa. Besancenot spent the 1930s traveling around Morocco, undertaking an awe-inspiring study of its peoples and rendered in vivid and precise detail the way they traditionally lived and dressed. Many of those outfits and cultural expressions are gone now, with Besancenot's watercolored drawings of them some of the only ways that people can now visit the past. The original manuscript of "Costumes du Maroc" is kept in the Royal Collection in Rabat, with only 310 copies of it produced. These prints are fresh from the folio and have been newly museum framed under conservator glass; unframed the image of the print is 12.75 x 7.75 inches. The tissue guards that bear the caption of the plate have been framed in the verso with the title visible behind clear plastic.
Jean Besancenot, real name Jean Girard, was a photographer, painter, designer, and ethnologist who was born in 1902 in Estrées-Saint-Denis. His work straddles the crossroads of art and ethnography as he was primarily interested in the costumes and ornaments of Morocco in the first half of the 20th century. He arrived for the first time in Morocco in 1934, a country he traveled through until 1939. There he produced a very rich ethnographic documentation on the traditional costumes and adornments of the different Moroccan ethnic groups. His work, composed of photographs, films, drawings and paintings, testifies to the aestheticism of Moroccan cultural heritage that was still marked by little Western influence.
His book "Costumes du Maroc" was published in 1942 at the end of his first trip and presents 60 documented plates of Moroccan costumes and their meanings in local customs. In 1947, Jean Besancenot became the iconographic manager of the Protectorate of France in Morocco where he was responsible for carrying out a documentation mission on Moroccan folklore and crafts. Besancenot encountered many difficulties in carrying out his work, some of the Moroccan Muslims being hostile to the representation of the human figure. As he was met with suspicion and superstition, with doors being frequently closed to all strangers and women rarely coming out with their faces uncovered, he had to work with photographic snapshots and wait a long time at the doors of homes and businesses to catch glimpses of the people. The work required five years of research and direct contact with the population. Besancenot chose 60 outfits that best characterize, according to him, the folklore of the Moroccan populations.
He subsequently became a collaborator at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. His work was particularly honored at the Maison de la photographie de Marrakech in 2018. He died in 1992 in Bry-sur-Marne.
Photography by PD Rearick
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 2014
1stDibs seller since 2019
106 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 to 2 days
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Detroit, MI
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View All"Man of The Ouanergui Carrying the Tabbane" from "Costumes of Morocco"
Located in Detroit, MI
"Homme de L'Ouanergui Portant le Tabban" translated to "Man of The Ouanergui Carrying the Tabbane" is plate number 25 in Jean Besancenot's stunning por...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Paper, Gouache
"Townwoman Dressed For Housework" from "Costumes of Morocco", Gouache on Paper
Located in Detroit, MI
"Citadine en Tenue de Ménagère" translated to "Townwoman Dressed For Housework" is plate number 9 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the people of Morocco from...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Gouache, Paper
"City Notable" from "Costumes of Morocco", Gouache on Paper
Located in Detroit, MI
"Notable Citadine" translated to "City Notable" is plate number 2 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the people of Morocco from ...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Paper, Gouache
"Jewish Woman of the Tafilelt" from "Costumes of Morocco", Gouache on Paper
Located in Detroit, MI
"Juive du Tafilelt" translated to "Jewish Woman of the Tafilelt" is plate number 55 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the peopl...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Paper, Gouache
"The Sultan's Moghazni" from "Costumes of Morocco", Gouache on Paper
Located in Detroit, MI
"Moghanzi du Sultan" translated to "The Sultan's Moghazni" is plate number 4 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the people of Mo...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Gouache, Paper
"Woman of the Imerrhane" from "Costumes of Morocco", Gouache on Paper
Located in Detroit, MI
"Femme des Imerrhane" translated to "Woman of the Imerrhane is plate number 34 in Jean Besancenot's stunning portraits and depictions of the people of ...
Category
1940s Portrait Prints
Materials
Gouache, Paper
You May Also Like
Neapolitan Fishermen - Original Gouache - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Neapolitan Fishermen is an original modern artwork realized by Anonymous Artist of thr XIX Century.
Original gouache.
Hand-signed on the lower center corner: "LeDoux".
The work is...
Category
19th Century Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Gouache
Portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi in front of the Sea - Gouache - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
"Portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi in front of the Sea" is an original mixed media (pencil, white lead) and gouache drawing on ivory-colorated cardboard by Anonymous Artist of XIX Century, perhaps Alessandro Sani...
Category
19th Century Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Gouache
J.E. Hat
By Kim Frohsin
Located in Burlingame, CA
Woman with red hair in a hat with feather, in green, black and white, Monotype ev edition 5/6 with hand coloring and mixed media work. Kim Frohsin spent 12 years working on monotype ...
Category
1990s Contemporary Portrait Prints
Materials
Gouache, Mixed Media, Monotype
View from below - Contemporary Gouache Painting, Abstraction
By Jacek Sowicki
Located in Warsaw, PL
JACEK SOWICKI (born in 1948)
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow and graduated from the Academy Of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1973. In 1984-89 he run the graphics atelier at...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Figurative Prints
Materials
Gouache, Cardboard
Mu-Tamagawa
Located in Middletown, NY
Woodcut in ink with embossing and hand-coloring in watercolor on laid Japon paper, 16 x 10 inches (406 x 253 mm), ōban tate-e, full margins. Scattered handling wear and toning, other...
Category
Late 19th Century Edo Portrait Prints
Materials
Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Woodcut
Pilgrimage to Enoshima
Located in Middletown, NY
Tokyo: Matsuki Heikichi, 1893
Woodcut in ink with embossing and hand-coloring in watercolor on handmade mulberry paper, 14 1/2 x 9 7/8 inches (368 x 251 mm), ōban tate-e, full margi...
Category
Late 19th Century Edo Portrait Prints
Materials
Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Woodcut
