Marie Laurencin exhibition (from 21st February – 30th June 2013)

On the 21st of February the exhibition dedicated to Marie Laurencin has opened in Marmottan-Monet Museum in Paris. She was the muse of the French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, a close friend of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, an important figure in the Parisian avant-garde. She is one of the best known female painters of the XX century. This exhibition is the first retrospective of Laurencin to be held in a French museum.

Marie Laurencin knew a great number of poets and writers of the first part of the past century, and she illustrated their masterpieces. In particular, she knew André Gide, Paul Morand,  Max Jacob, Jacques de Lacretelle, Max Jacob, Jean Cocteau, Jean Paulhan, and many others. Laurencin also painted theatrical sceneries for French Comédie Française and Russian ballet of Dyagilev, she was a poet and a printmaker.

 Her works unite the XVIII century rococo motives and the style of Persian and Mongolian miniature painting. Preferring rose-pink and blue pastel colors, Laurencin usually represented female and children portraits in her paintings. She was also fascinated by circus actors. Female characters created by Laurencin and defined as “the creatures of the fairies’ country” are always charming and attractive.
Among some ninety works that have been brought together at the Marmottan-Monet Museum, the great majority come from the Japanese museum in Tokyo, opened by patron Mr. Takano and his son more than thirty years ago and dedicated to Marie Laurencin. The exhibition unites particularly charming masterpieces that reflect different periods of the painter’s life. No one, except her, used such subtle nuances and midtones, no one painted using such light dabs. Her poetic and elegant paintings, representing the Amazons and flying doves, are worthy of respect. The works of Marie Laurencin, greatly appreciated abroad, embody the French distinguished style that affects virtuosos.

The exhibition will last till the 30th of June 2013. The address of the Marmottan-Monet Museum is 2, Rue Louis Boilly 75016 Paris.