Group portrait of russian mannequins
Photography
Inventory number
2026.4.24.5.PH.FA.C1932.FRDescription
Group photographic portrait of four Russian mannequins working for the House of Brunswick and presenting its fur collection. The group is posed outdoors before a light balustrade, with a blurred open landscape visible in the distance. The setting suggests a public or leisure environment, possibly a racecourse or promenade. At the far left stands Genia DE GORLENKO, while the three other models remain unidentified. The women are dressed in a similar manner, each wearing a long dark dress of plain fabric combined with a fur cape or capelet covering the shoulders and upper body.The capes present varied textures and volumes, ranging from broader, horizontally arranged fur sections to softer and more enveloping collars. Each model wears a different form of headwear: Genia DE GORLENKO is the only figure wearing a hat with a short brim, while the others wear close-fitting bonnets or caps. Their hair is short and carefully styled beneath the headpieces.
The models complete their ensembles with gloves, dark heeled shoes, and reticules held in the hands.
Génia de GORLENKO, vicomtesse de CASTEX (Ukrainian, Saint-Petersburg 1908 — 1965 Paris) was a slavic-born French mannequin, considered one of the most accomplished figures of the Paris couture world during the interwar period. Born into the distinguished Ukrainian noble family of GORLENKO, she was the daughter of Paul GORLENKO (1877–1953) and the sister of Galina de GORLENKO, baronne DELWIG, likewise a noted mannequin. Following the Russian Revolution, both sisters emigrated to France, where Génia began her modeling career in 1926. She worked for leading couture houses including Maggy ROUFF and is reported to have worked for Lucien LELONG, where her natural ability to present garments with exceptional grace made her a favourite among designers. On 26 February 1943 she married Marie Maurice Jules "Gérard" de CASTEX, vicomte de Castex (1911–1979), in Chaville, Hauts-de-Seine, assuming the title of vicomtesse, the couple divorced on 16 March 1962. Later that same year, on 28 June 1962, she married Bernard Marie Léon BARBIER (1907–1990) in Paris. A significant photographic archive documenting her career was preserved by her sister Galina in their later years.
Material
Analog photographyOrigin
circa 1932 France, ParisDimensions
Length : 17.8 cmHeight : 12.6 cm