women in art, part three: art deco painter tamara de lempicka - the glamorous art
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briefly
Tamara de Lempicka's art is widely known for its embodiment of art deco - the movement which became popular in the 1920s and 1930s primarily in the design of buildings, furniture, jewelry, and interior decor. The term 'art deco' was lifted from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts) - or simply Arts Décoratifs - held in 1925 in Paris, France around the same time that de Lempicka's work was starting to gain attention. And if art is the imitation of life, then de Lempicka is a poster girl. For nobody painted the affluence of the roaring 20s and 30s like she did.
De Lempicka's numerous portraiture, lesser known still-lifes and a handful of landscapes all echoed the glitz, the glamor and the charmed lives of the bourgeoisie. Depicting on her canvas what she knew best, she painted her women as subjects that ooze with sex appeal, in bold, stark colors and in that quality that could be best described as tubular. At some point, her style was described as 'soft cubism' - a Picasso with softer, rounder, edges. The word 'refined' comes to mind.
Unfortunately for de Lempicka, her love for high society did not bode well for her art during her time as her viewers and the media were more interested on what she wore and who were seen at her parties than her work. And who can blame them for the artist herself was loving every minute of being a social butterfly and showing how it was to be one through her art. In a biography written by her daughter de Lempicka had this to say about a self-portrait called 'Tamara in the Green Bugatti" (see below): "When I drove in it, I wore a pullover of the same bright yellow, always with a black skirt and hat. I was dressed like the car and the car like me." She actually drove a yellow and black Renault and not a Bugatti.
Nevertheless, de Lempicka remains to be "the painter of the stars" as she is still popular among Hollywood stars and types. In fact, Madonna, owner of numerous paintings, used her art work in the music videos for "Open Your Heart" and "Drowned World/Substitute for Love".
timeline
1898 - de Lempicka was born Maria Górska in Warsaw, Poland on May 16. There are claims that she was in fact born in Moscow, Russia.
1911 - de Lempicka was exposed to the art of Italian masters while spending the winter with her grandmother in Italy and the French Riviera
1912 - de Lempicka's parents divorced
1916 - de Lempicka married lawyer Tadeusz Lempicki in St. Petersburg, Russia and gave birth to a daughter she named Maria Krystyna, also known as Kizette
1918 - de Lempicka studied art the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Montparnasse under Maurice Denis and Andre Lhote
1917 - Lempicki was arrested by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution but was soon released with the help of de Lempicka. They traveled to Denmark and England and finally settled in Paris, France.
1923 - de Lempicka began showing her work at various galleries in Paris
1924 - de Lempicka's work was shown at the Salon des Femmes Artistes Modernes also in Paris
1925 - de Lempicka had her first major exhibition in Milan, Italy. It is believed that she finished 28 new works in 6 months
1928 - de Lempicka divorced Lempicki
1929 - de Lempicka traveled to the United States to paint a commissioned portrait and to organize an exhibition of her work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Carnegie Institute
1933 - de Lempicka married the Baron Raoul Kuffner
1939 - de Lempicka and Kuffner moved to Beverly Hills, California
1943 - de Lempicka moved to New York City
1960 - de Lempicka started using palette knives and changed her style to abstract
1962 - Kuffner died of a heart attack
1978 - de Lempicka moved to Cuernavaca, Mexico
1980 - de Lempicka died in her sleep on March 18 in Mexico
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she said
"I live life in the margins of society, and the rules of normal society don't apply to those who live on the fringe."
"I like to go out in the evenings and have a good-looking man tell me how beautiful I am or how great an artist I am."
"I was the first woman to paint cleanly, and that was the basis of my success. From a hundred pictures, mine will always stand out. And so the galleries began to hang my work in their best rooms, always in the middle, because my painting was attractive. It was precise. It was 'finished'."
“There are no miracles; there is only what you make.”
"I do not follow the trend, I set the trend."
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- women in art, part one: georgia o'keeffe - art is larger than life
- women in art, part two: frida kahlo - el arte no es un sueo
- women in art, part four: impressionist painter mary cassatt - the art of light
- women in art, part five: minerva at the dawn - women painters of the renaissance period
- women in art, part six: realist painter rosa bonheur - art is wild at heart
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Fantastic! Her incredible work is a reflection of her attitude, perseverance, and demeanor. Brilliant! I really enjoyed your writing of such as well Cris. Great job and great hub!
Thank you for this delightful introduction to an artist I did not know. From what you've written here, I can tell you that I am as intrigued with her works of art as I am with her life style. It's off to Amazon for me.
I like the "girl in a green dress" best. She paints with excitement. The "women bathing" looks unfinished to me, unless its meant to suggest movement. Thanks for a look into her world Cris.
Terrific hub, great pics. I like the ending quote, also the woman in green. I wasn't familiar with this artist and am glad you've brought her to our attention. Thanks for a great job again and another wonderful hub.
WoW, just love the essence of her focal points.. Have not heard of her, yet how she captured the nudes, eyes, and really any object shown above is so striking and amazing. How lucky was she to be introduced to the Masters at 13 yrs.. From the sounds of her edgy confidence, she stands out amongt herself in a bold confidence. Does not suprise me at all that Madonna is keen on her...seems that her attitude stands out radiantly in confidence more so than any artist of this medium that I have heard of... I can she a parallel in Tamara/Madanna's portrayed personalities.. Fabulous hub. Your portrayal of these artists is dripping with passion for the subject.. Thank you. :)
it's amazing that anyone can actually paint faces and bodies, and fruit even so accurately..... she was not too humble, but well i don't think i would be if i was so talented.
Wow what a confident artist very sure of herself and it shows in her art. She was well ahead of her time yet I have never seen her before. The pictures are beautiful.
Amazing artist. Good job on the hub, Cris. You have a wealth of incredible images here. Thanks for all the information on de Lempicka. I had seen some of her work before, but knew very little about her and how versatile she was.
I'm with Randy! My fave is the 'Girl in the green dress' followed by 'Calla Lilies". Her work is clean and I adore the muted tones she used. Fantastic hub on an artist who many will have never heard of!! Thank you!
She sounds like she was a really confident woman! Thanks for the introduction to the lady and her work, Chris. One lives and learns. :)
That is stunning art from a very self-assured and ahead of her time woman. Or maybe that was a common attitude at the time? She is right though, it would definitely stand out in most galleries. An incredible artist and personality.
Hey Cris, I must say these are very stunning paintings. I'm not much into art as this is not really my forte. But I have to admit, you feature some really interesting artists. Thanks :).
Cris: You have introducd me to yet another artist; I like the girl in the green dress the best, one can almost feel that the painting is alive, well at least to my perception!
Thumbs up!
@Frieda
And she's quite prolific too. I agree, her paintings almost have that three-dimensional feel to them.
@dohn
Glad you enjoyed this hub. Thanks for dropping by.
@Sally
I'm not sure if there was a movie made about her but there was a play.
@RB
That self-portrait is one of her more famous works.
@Paradise7
I think she deserves to be more know. It was a pleasure making this hub and 'reviewing' her work.
@invictus
Yes she was lucky and not to mention privileged. And I think I understand what you mean 'Madonna' being keen on her work, or at least her art.
@brenda
It's really amazing and quite frustrating, frankly, that most of us are not blessed with that kind of talent. I guess we have to make up for it some other way! Haha
@Tammy
I agree she was a woman who knew what she wanted and was aware of her gift.
@alek
It's my pleasure putting this together and sharing it to all of you. So thanks for appreciating it.
@FP
True that. What's the point of living if you have stopped learning?
@JBeadle
Yes, quite the personality she was. I mean who else is there to be called a glamorous artist?
@emie
Stunning is the word. Glad to know you found this interesting and I hope enjoyable too.
@marie
I think it's the girl with the green dress for all of you and I believe that the subject matter - portrait of a girl in a car - is a rare one making it extra special.
Thanks to all of you for coming by, reading and leaving comments. I appreciate the kind gesture. :D :D :D
Bold woman. Female artists who take on the art world are often bold and amazing creatures. This body of work is that. Great work. Looking forward to reading more ..
True that. And when they do, we are in awe. Thanks for reading, and yes there'll be more.
Nice hubbername by the way :D
marvelous paintings by an artist I did not know but am going to find out more about-- thanks so much
lOVE LOVE LOVE this hub, those paintings are amazing. I have never heard of this artist before but would love to get some prints of her work and redo my whole bedroom. Thanks for your pictures, you always have great ones.
@robie
Glad this hub made you interested on de Lempicka as her art is truly, well, glamorous :D
@ladyjane1
That sounds like a great idea as her art is truly very decorative in nature. Thanks for dropping by :D
Fascinating! I am familiar with Girl in a Green Dress but I knew nothing of the artist. She gets it down to line and emotion, doesn't she?
And I think knowing more about the artist would make her art even more fascinating, like an extra layer. Yes she does. Thanks for reading and commenting :D
BREATHTAKING thank you and loved the ending! Thanks, kimberly
Thanks for dropping by Kimberly. I'm glad this took your breath away :D
Wow! I was not aware of this form of art! I am a little more enlightened and yes... her art definately does look 'finished'- seems perfect to me. It looks so perfect, it looks brush stroked... however, they didnt have technology like that in those days! Brilliant x
hi shazwellyn
somebody said in the comments above that she's ahead of her time and she was probably, talent-wise. As you've noted her technique can be perceived as very 'contemporary' - pure talent I say! Thanks for dropping by :D
I love this work; there was many talented women painter that got overlooked and I think this women was one of them.
I believe so too. Thanks for dropping by :D
Cris - what a wonderful Hub and the pix are simply gorgeous. You have done a great job here. Thanks for the effort.
Love and peace
Tony
Thanks tony! :D
Yes they are lovely but "big boned"gals!
Tamara Lempicka - Queen of Modern
Vittoriano complex in Rome, Italy
Piazza Venezia, Roma
Showing now through July 31, 2011
90 paintings, 30 drawings, 50 photographs, 2 short films and a hand full of her personal letters and news article reprints
She is an artist I have admired for years even researching her life well before getting near an original. This past week in Rome strolling along with friends I saw a fabric sign rippling in the wind with what I thought was her name. A hard and fast halt with a twist of my body I ran to the fabric banner. Yes it was Tamara! A show dedicated to just Tamara!
This is the location where I visited the Amadeus Modigliani exhibit in 2006. Although always interesting, the show had a very limited amounts of works. So what if this is true of hers I thought… as long as I get to see originals it’s worth it!
I texted my Italian ex Paolo and arranged an early breakfast for the following morning. After our cappuccini I said I had a surprise. We had not only seen the 2006 Modigliani exhibition together but the 2009 Rome Jeanne Michael Basquiat Exhibition too. With tickets in hand we climbed up the stairs to her gallery space, immediately I over whelmed and felt exuberant.
DeCo DivArtista, Tamara Lempicka unrolls the layers and increases the folds, enmeshes full body with sleek and chic, then glazing monochromatic tones with isolated vibrant punches, chiaroscuro contrasts no doubt about it, her message is clear… look at me, look at me, while I look away.
Never was I so taken aback but such strong works and sooooo many pieces. Just when I thought it would be finished, there was more. Here story boards were filled with her life’s details exposed to me mistakes on Wikipedia about like her father’s death when she was just 5.
Her eccentric-ness for life, direct and flamboyant posture confirmed to me that some of us are just born this way. We are not pretending, we do not do this for others but we do have an endless need to communicate, to express and to over flow.
After passing all works two times, I felt a bit depressed. I needed to leave this woman who I got to spend an afternoon with. I thought well about this way she laid out her compositions.
A common compositional theme and then it came to me. When I listened well and watch this audience of “glamorous persona” is what I overheard, over and over and over… Silent-er than a whisper… I heard…
“Look at me while I look away. I am soft, I am round, I am quiet, I am irresistible and I am a seductress.
I am powerful, I am important; I command my space and the structures surrounding my presence.
I flow easy, I layer in folds, and I fill my curves.
I am rectangular, I am straight, I am gay, I am square and I am full of angles.
I am diagonal and direct.
I am blunt, I am harsh, I am geometric like an Einstein equation.
I am to be studied and in the meanwhile I will be erotic or powerful or strong in business or full of strength and importance.
I know you want to stare so let me hold a pose for you to study and remember of me by. Again, I have a need to make a statement, look at me while I look away.”
In the end Tamara wins… She highlights what she wants your eye to see and where she wants it too finish. Her art reads commercialism with an Andy Warhol’s Campbell soup cans advertisement but with no end product being sold. Cropping her subjects, balancing unevenly weighted linear backgrounds, she creates profundity and debt in a 3 dimensional “persona” of her subjects.
A trendy, suggestive, provocative artist and her style, she was enlightened before her own time in the roaring 1920’s. Her memorizing black and white photos give an insight to the psyche of this amazing and under rated artist. … TAMARA LEPICKA’S SHOW IN ROME IS A MUST SEE! A MUST DO AND A MUST BRAG ABOUT!
@cathie - it would be decades before the "waif" was invented! Haha
@Francesca - that must be very exciting for you. Congrats! And thanks for sharing your story here :D
Frieda Babbley Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago
Amazing body of work. Excellent hub. Her art is so bold and behold such a truthful essence of woman. I've always found that her paintings are statuesque in the way that it's as if you could stare and study each piece for some length of time, feeling as if you could walk around it and interact with it so differently than you could with most paintings.