Ruining the art of portrait painting | Paul Fairie

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Ruining the art of portrait painting

SHORT SKITS CONDEMNED BY ROYAL PAINTERS

Most of Present Day Portraits of Women Are Half Length Because of Style

LONDON, April 26 -- By a vote of two to one the Royal Academy has condemned knee-length skirts from the artistic viewpoint.
An argument arose from the fact that most of the present-day portraits of women are half-length. Sir Frank Dicksee, president of the academy, and the Hon John Collier say it is because of short skirts. Flora Lion, a well-known portrait painter, denies it.
"It is not worth while nowadays to paint the whole of a woman's figure," said Sir Frank. When you have painted half the length there is nothing more worth painting."
"In the old days," Collier explained, "woman's dress was flowing and yielded lines which were suitable to the brush of an artist. With modern dress it is different. The lines halt short. Besides, it is not every woman who looks her best when she shows her legs."

--The Boston Globe, 26 April 1928

Like 8 May 2023 at 23:20 | Open on mstdn.ca

23 comments

City noise

Holds Short Skirts Partly Responsible For Noises of City

Short skirts are responsible for part of the noise in the city.

Stuart Chase, economist, speaking at the Eighth Avenue Temple House last night declared the long skirts, because of their voluminous, swaying textiles, caught much of the clatter and bang when they were in vogue. Since the styles have bene short the noises have bene longer.

The long skirts broke the "noise waves," Chase explained. Although opposed to city noises, Chase did not go so far as to advocate the return of the long dresses for street wear.

--The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 22 November 1929

8 May 2023 at 23:21 | Open on mstdn.ca

A work slowdown

Short Skirts Blamed For Work Slowdown

TURIN, Italy (WNS) - Bruce Moss, a 27-year-old British mechanic, arranges tours for foreign girls to visit Italian automobile factories but warns them: "No mini-skirts allowed."

"The last group of American and English girls almost brought work to a standstill and caused a few minor accidents," he explained. "Skirts are worn longer in Italy, you know."

--Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 1969

8 May 2023 at 23:21 | Open on mstdn.ca

Luring modest young men away from virtue

THE SHORT-SKIRT MENACE

A magistrate has gone on record as strongly disapproving the short skirts. A menace to public morality, she calls them. He reiterates the old slit-skirt arguments to the effect that modest young men, calmly intent on virtue, are shamelessly lured from right thinking by the ungodly display of female ankles on the streets.

--The Los Angeles Times, 31 October 1915

8 May 2023 at 23:22 | Open on mstdn.ca

A drop in record sales

Mini-Skirts Blamed for Disc Sales Drop

CANNES, France (WNS) -- Lucien Morisse, program director of the Europe No. 1 radio network, hired a dozen statisticians to find out why record sales have dropped 30 per cent in France. The experts have reported that mini-skirts are to blame.

"French girls who formerly bought the most records are now spending their money on the new clothes instead," said the report.

--Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 November 1966

8 May 2023 at 23:23 | Open on mstdn.ca

Unemployment

SHORT SKIRTS BLAMED AGAIN

Bradford, England -- Short skirts are causing unemployment.

England's textile industry has been hit by the short skirt, which means less fabric for a dress than under the old style.

"Looking at the short, tight and almost sleeveless garments one sees worn by women now, one sees another grievance for the weaver," said John Emsley, president of the Textile Institute.

--The News-Messenger, 2 April 1925

8 May 2023 at 23:23 | Open on mstdn.ca

An increase in divorce

Short Skirts Blamed for Divorce Increase

Eight Thousand Home Ties Are Severed in Chicago Marital Courts

Chicago - Jazz music, rolled stockings, short skirts, rouge and powder are the things responsible for the alarming increase in divorces and the startling decrease in marriages in Chicago.

Judges and social workers here are puzzled. The one thing that worries them is the question: "How is the population of the country going to increase under the circumstances?

--Star Tribune, 3 January 1922

8 May 2023 at 23:24 | Open on mstdn.ca

Traffic jams

Short Skirts Blamed by New Orleans Police

NEW ORLEANS -- Short skirts, allowing more freedom for the wearer, may prevent some kind of accidents, but they increase others. So says "Big" Morris Gannon, traffic cop at St. Charles and Canal streets, this city, one of the worst traffic corners in the corner. [sic]

While waiting for the go sign, the jellybean auto vamps keep their eyes on the sidewalks and the coppers have to bring them back to automotive life to start the string of machines. Wandering eyes breed careless driving, resulting in accidents; delay traffic, which in may cases increases cost of delivery, hurting business and interferes with street car transportation.

--Alexandria Daily Town Talk, 28 July 1921

8 May 2023 at 23:24 | Open on mstdn.ca

A drop in the cotton trade

A PETTICOAT LAMENT

SHORT SKIRTS BLAMED FOR BIG DROP IN COTTON TRADE

A National Cotton Week, beginning on May 5, including efforts throughout Britain to improve the home cotton market, will feature 10,000 shop windows exhibiting cotton goods.

The chairman of the campaign, Mr. Holroyd, blamed short skirts and the almost total disappearance of the petticoat for home sales being 400,000,000 yds less a year than before the war.

--Auckland Sun, 2 May 1930

8 May 2023 at 23:25 | Open on mstdn.ca

Paul Fairie replied to Paul

Bringing about a freak era

KNEE-LENGTH SKIRTS BLAMED FOR FREAK ERA

Survey Reveals Milady Causes Big Turmoil for Manufacturers

--The Bayonne Times, 30 June 1927

8 May 2023 at 23:26 | Open on mstdn.ca

Paul Fairie replied to Paul

An epidemic of colds

SLIT SKIRT BLAMED

Joliet, Ill, Oct 3-- An epidemic of colds in Joliet was blamed on the slit skirt and the low-necked dress by the county W.C.T.U. convention.

--The Prescott Daily News, 3 October 1913

8 May 2023 at 23:26 | Open on mstdn.ca

Paul Fairie replied to Paul

Sloppy modern girls

MODERN GIRLS SLOPPY

Short Skirts to Blame

NO DEPORTMENT

"Modern girls' sloppiness is due to short skirts," said Lady Bertha Dawkins (Woman of Bedchamber to Queen Mary). Lady Dawkins is recognised as an authority on deportment. "Although in an earlier generation," she said, "we wore long skirts, we never crossed our legs, turned in our toes, or lolled in ugly attitudes. I do not believe girls nowadays are taught how to walk, sit, or hold themselves. Modern strapless shoes are responsible for their slipshod walk."

--The Adelaide Mail, 17 April 1926

8 May 2023 at 23:27 | Open on mstdn.ca

Paul Fairie replied to Paul

Turmoil in the world

SHORT SKIRTS BLAMED FOR 'TURMOIIL IN WORLD'

MANCHESTER NH - Bishop George A. Guertin, of the Catholic diocese of Manchester, in a sermon here asserted that modern styles in women's clothing were "directly responsible for much of turmoil in the world today."

"Can a man look at a girl dressed as so many Manchester girls are dressed with anything but disgust?" he asked. "Their short skirts and low necks lead only disrespect.

"The woman who can win the respect of men by her modesty can hold the respect of her children. Then women can point the way to a permanent world peace."

--The Washington Times, 25 April 1922

8 May 2023 at 23:27 | Open on mstdn.ca

Paul Fairie replied to Paul

If you want to read more about why we blame things on short skirts (or flappers or jazz or bicycles...) or why we can't stop complaining that nobody wants to work anymore (or kids today are too soft...), pre-order my new book of clippings & essays here:
https://unbound.com/books/thepressgallery?utm_campaign=thepressgallery&utm_medium=AuthorSocial&utm_source=AuthorActivity

8 May 2023 at 23:27 | Open on mstdn.ca

Jerry Bell :verified_paw: :donor: :verified_dragon: :rebelverified: replied to Paul

@paulisci wow. I had no idea miniskirts had such a major influence

9 May 2023 at 0:12 | Open on infosec.exchange

Jenny Fx replied to Jerry Bell :verified_paw: :donor: :verified_dragon: :rebelverified:

@jerry @paulisci This is why Mary Quant was such an icon.

9 May 2023 at 1:57 | Open on mastodon.ie

glasspshr replied to Jenny

@urbanfoxe @jerry @paulisci I always listen to a bishop talking about women’s fashion

11 May 2023 at 23:46 | Open on wonkodon.com

Linda Rose Smit replied to Jerry Bell :verified_paw: :donor: :verified_dragon: :rebelverified:

@jerry @paulisci short skirts in 1922 even!

12 May 2023 at 6:47 | Open on mastodon.social

oldmanmike replied to Paul

@paulisci You seem to be skirting around the topic here…

9 May 2023 at 1:18 | Open on c.im

A bend gules: dabbler in arts replied to Paul

@paulisci would love to know the dates associated with these short skirts.
Are they ankle length short (possibly for an attendant of Queen Mary)? Mid calf? To the knee? Above the knee? Pre or post rationing?

9 May 2023 at 4:18 | Open on medievalist.masto.host

Tom McGinty replied to Paul

@paulisci these threads remind me of this comic from xkcd https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2660:_Gen_Z

9 May 2023 at 13:06 | Open on c.im

Bruce Acton replied to Paul

@paulisci you should start collecting a list of all the things they blame on Trans people, probably have enough for a short book at least.

9 May 2023 at 20:00 | Open on mastodon.social

Dr. Quadragon ❌ replied to Paul

@paulisci the short version: people, generally, are dipshits.

12 May 2023 at 13:36 | Open on mastodon.ml

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@paulisci@mstdn.ca it's those men's problem, not women's :blobcatgooglyshrug:

12 May 2023 at 13:51 | Open on lamp.leemoon.network