Monday 5 October 2009

7. "Napoleon's Ride" from Threadless

The image is unmistakeable: Napoleon Bonaparte, right hand aloft, sitting on his rearing white horse as he makes his way over the Alps. During the period 1801-1805, artist Jacques-Louis David painted five different versions of this iconic portrait of Napoleon, and now, after 200 years, a sixth has been created... adding a stockinged cat and a hugh flag of a turquoise doughnut.

Napoleon's Ride is another in the collection of Bonaparte t-shirts available at Threadless.com. Created by Berlin-based Martin Krusche, the shirt was printed in 2008, and at the moment looks like it's pretty much sold out, with the exception of junior sizes. Once again, I've submitted a re-print request, and will let you know if there's any movement.

Details: available on a plain white t-shirt, Napoleon's Ride uses "plastisol ink and a chino additive for softness", and is entirely drawn using grey, black and turquoise. Currently $9.

I love the ghostly faces on Napoleon and the cat, and the fact that even his horse Marengo has been made to look quite sinister. Thinking about it though, Marengo outlived Napoleon, and eventually made it to the ripe old age of 38, so I'm guessing he probably was looking more than a little creepy by the end anyway.

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