“SIMPLICITY IS COMPLEXITY RESOLVED.”
CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI (1876-1957)
Reminiscent of the eponymous sculpture by Romanian artist Constantin Brâncusi from 1913, the DANAÏDE bag is a piece of art, handcrafted from luxurious, naturally grained calfskin. The complex cut of the shoulder bag reflects the ambition of Esther and Dimitrios Tsatsas: to create a three-dimensional leather object without a clearly defined front, back, or side part – offering unexpected perspectives from every angle.
This approach to form was also embraced by Paris-based Brâncusi, one of the most revolutionary and influential sculptors of the twentieth century. The core of his artistic work was three-dimensional portraiture, in its formal purity and radical simplicity.
During their regular visits to Paris, Esther and Dimitrios spent many hours at the Atelier Brâncusi, which was faithfully reconstruction and reassembled in 1977 by the Centre Pompidou with a deeply moving presentation of his artistic legacy, encompassing his sculptures alongside countless drawings, photographs, and personal artifacts.
The designer duo was particularly moved by his sculptures, which echo the human form through radical reduction, distilled to its purest lines and contours. One piece was DANAÏDE, a reclining female head cast in black-patinated bronze which stood out for its elegant and minimal aesthetic, defined by refined lines and exceptional craftsmanship. The sculpture became the inspiration for a handbag design whose structural complexity required months of development and refinement at the TSATSAS leather workshop in Offenbach/Main. The result is a leather object shaped by both artistic reverence and handcrafted precision.
