Laurencin, Marie

Marie Laurencin, born in Paris on October 31, 1883, is a leading figure in French modern art. Marked by an atypical background and unfailing determination, she overcame her school failures to devote herself fully to her passion: drawing and painting. Against her mother's advice, she joined theÉcole de Sèvres, where she studied porcelain painting, before continuing her artistic apprenticeship at theAcadémie Humbert from 1903. There, she honed her skills in drawing, painting and engraving, while developing a singular style that would mark her era. Read more

Marie Laurencin (1883-1956)

It was at the heart of this Parisian artistic ferment that she made decisive encounters, notably with Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, two pillars of Cubism. She joined the Bateau-Lavoir circle and became an emblematic figure of Montmartre bohemia. Her relationship with the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who became both her lover and mentor, had a profound influence on her artistic vision.

Marie Laurencin developed a unique style, often described as "feminine and poetic", which differed from traditional Cubism in its softer, more lyrical approach. Her canvases are imbued with pastel tones, graceful figures and evanescent silhouettes, often dominated by shades of pink, gray and pale blue. Her portraits of women, imbued with delicacy and mystery, reveal a rare sensitivity that contrasts with the masculine and often rigid trends of the time.

In the 1920s, Laurencin broadened her artistic scope by working for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, where she designed sets and costumes. She also established herself as a sought-after portraitist, finely capturing the faces of Europe's cultural and aristocratic elite.

Beyond her art, Marie Laurencin was an independent woman who refused to conform to the expectations of her time. Her paintings, though often soft and dreamy, carry a powerful message about the place of women in art and society. Today, she is recognized as a pioneering artist, having paved the way for a singular and assertive female artistic expression.

Marie Laurencin died in Paris on June 8, 1956, leaving behind a timeless artistic legacy celebrated in the world's greatest museums, including the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Her work continues to inspire and fascinate, testifying to the modernity and delicacy of her view of the world.