Dora Maar, born in 1907 in Paris was a French photographer and an artist.
She grew up between Paris and Buenos Aires where her father used to work as an architect. In 1926 she returned to Paris to study art. A few years later Dora began to pursue her photography career. She started working with fashion and advertising industries.
The style of Dora’s photographs associated her with the Surrealist circle who at that time were very active in Paris. She photographed many of them and even shared exhibitions with the artists. Her work at that time began to take on more and more surreal character with that dreamlike touch, making her photographs visual poems. She also made ambiguous and absurd photomontages, which were very innovative at the time. (They at some point remind the collages that are so popular nowadays. You can find plenty of them on the pinterest.) While her career among Surrealists was gaining momentum she became friends with writers like Andre Breton, Georges Bataille or a famous poet – Paul Eluard.
Paul Eluard had a big impact on the rest of her life. In the mid-1930s he introduced Dora to his dear friend who was highly cherished, Spanish painter—Pablo Picasso. Shortly afterwards they began their eight-year romantic relationship.
Pablo and Dora
Nowadays Dora Maar is best known for documenting one of the most important work by Picasso – Guernica. The work was painted under the impression of the massacre performed by the fascists on the Basque town of Guernica. Her photographs created an extremely interesting insight into the process of creating a large-format work. However this project, as well as the relationship with Picasso, overshadowed the rest of her career. Maar experienced the fate of many female artists which is being reduced to the role of the muse as Picasso documented her exceptional beauty on many canvases.
Portret Dory Maar, Pablo Picasso
Dora and Pablo broke off their relationship in the 1946. That is when Dora suffered a nervous breakdown and required a psychiatric hospitalization. She underwent electric-shock therapy and needed to continue her psychotherapy for the next years. Until the end of her days, Dora led a hermitic life focusing on painting and photography. She died in 1997.
1. Have you heard about Dora before? Do you like her work?
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Sources:
2. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dora-Maar
3. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/maar-dora/life-and-legacy/
4. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dora-maar-and-pablo-picasso-the-greatest-love-affair-in-art-history-95dxc5x89
5. https://www.vogue.pl/a/dora-maar-uwolnic-sie-od-picassa
Comments
No, but the works look amazing.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Not sure, but I believe the model of Mona Lisa was a kind of muse to the Leonardo Di Caprio.
I’ve never heard about Dora before, she must have been a fascinating woman. I really like her photos, they are modern and very atmospheric. It definitely stood out in the past.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Unfortunately, I don’t know another example of this type, although I think there are a lot of them especially in the past, when women were pushed into the background. I think that, unfortunately, most women muses, when artists got bored with them, met a fate similar to that of Dora, and probably that's why I haven't heard of anyone like that.
2. Unfortunately not. Despite this, you often hear about muses, but the only thing we look at is their appearance. Hearing this term alone, I never wondered who those people were, what their interests and passions were.
This is the first time I've seen this author's artwork. I don't insert myself with art. I don't understand this art either, although from a technical point of view these photos seem to be ok.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
I once heard from Gala Dali, in fact her name was Helena Diakonova. Former Wife and muse of Salvador Dali, she and her husband got involved in surrealistic activities. When in 1929. It is also believed that it was actually the Gala that saved Salvador from the madness and premature death.
Unfortunately, I have never heard about this author before, but now I know, I really enjoy watching her photos, they are amazing. From her work, I can feel that she is a person living in this era, although she is not.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Unfortunately, I don’t know any other example, I hope I would know more, because I really appreciate such people.
2. Not really. Moreover what's also sad about Dora, is that after going to google her to see more of her photos, google auto suggestion finishes 'Dora Maar' with 'muse', 'was muse', 'Pablo Picasso', and such. But on a bright side, if we can see any good things related to this problem, women which managed to keep their strong position despite odds being against them, became even more outstanding ones and will be probably much harder to forget than males. E.g. Skłodowska which from what I remember had even Pierre Curie against her. Yet today most people probably know that there was some spouse which was also chemist (not even true, because he was physicist, that one surprised me, but wished to check his name and found it out) and helped her during discoveries :). Unfortunately such list, even though much easier to fill, would be still short.
1. I have heard about her work regarding documenting Pablo Picasso Guernica but I had no idea she was so talented and sensitive woman. I think there is something magical and intriguing in her photographs, she seems to be so delicate, sensitive and sensible, and I think you can feel it in her works. I’m glad you wrote about her
2. I don’t think it is exactly what are you asking but was this biographic movie “Big eyes” directed by Tim Burton. It was about a very talented and popular woman that painted people’s portraits with huge eyes. Tricky part was – her husband took all the credit for it and claimed for a long time that he was the one, that created all these artworks. Her name was Margaret Keane.
No, never, thanks for introducing me to her. I enjoy her work, there is something special about photographies and paintings from that surrealist epoch.
2.
Unfortunately no, her life story was interesting and I guess she had a good life nevertheless, the thing is that in that in the past women had it harder to live independently, so she became a muse.
2. Unfortunately, I do not know such a woman. Perhaps because on a daily basis he is not interested in such things. Although I know that it is recognized that actress Uma Thurman is the main muse of Quentin Tarantino. It was for her that the entire series of films "Kill Bill" was created.
No, I have never heard about Dora Maar before, so it was interesting for me to read the presentation. As for me, Dora`s works look nice. I like the photo of the woman in the swimming pool. Also, I think that her photos were really innovative for the twentieth century.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
To be honest, I can't now remember the woman who was exactly reduced to the role of a muse. To my mind just come the examples of the most known muses for artists, such as Gala Dalí or Lilya Brik.
Taking under consideration the thing you said about the resemblance to Beksiński's work I can say I see it too. There is something dark and both intriguing in these artists work.
As far as I know there have been several posthumous exhibitions of Dora's works, but it is still very little for such a talented artist.
Tarantino mentioned many times that Uma is a muse for him. He also praised her excellent acting talent and helped her to become one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood and around the world. I think it's a case of positive action of being a "muse".
No, I’ve never heard of her. Although her artwork is really impressive and I’m pretty sure it must have stood out in her days. It’s quite sad that she was known not for her photographs, but rather for her relationship. No wonder she suffered a mental breakdown when “everything she had and was” left.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Unfortunately I can’t think of any other example.
1. No I have never heard about her. So interesting, I love her works. Nowadays there are plenty of such works, but the thing is that it was quite new for that time,I think so.
2. I don't know, I know only Elena, she was mentioned above.
Probably Anna Ahmatova she was muse of Gumelev and one of the popular woman artist Frida Kahlo, as I know she was a muse for one male artist.
No, I haven't (but I knew about Pablo Picasso's painting, her portrait).
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Actually I would not consider calling a woman "Muse" as 'Reducing". If some artist or musician called me her muse, I would be flattered honestly. Inspiring somebody's work is really nice. I see what you mean here: she was in the shadow of Pablo's fame and her, as well, exceptional work was almost completely ignored and did not get enough fame in comparison to the surreal paintings of Pablo. But that does not mean that she was reduced.
1. No I have never heard about Dora before, I found out about her in this article. Do I like her work? It's hard to say, but I do not think so. Her works are specific, and I prefer classical ones. Besides, I've never been interested in art.
2. No, I do not know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse. This is not a subject I am interested in :)
No I haven't heard about her. Yes I like her work, these photos have something inside and I would definitely hang them at home.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
No I don't know any similar examples.
2. I don't understand this question. I think that a possibility of reducing a role of woman to a muse, is individual case. Someone could say that Monroe was only beautiful and others would say she was gorgeous.
well they look interesting and maybe I would go to the exhibition but they are not my style and I would not hang them at home
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Unfortunately I don't know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse
2. Unfortunately, I do not know another example, but I will search for some examples in the Google search engine. Very interesting topic.
I have never heard about Dora Maar before, so I guess your article says the truth about her being a forgotten artist reduced to just a muse. I really like her pictures that you have put into the article, it's a shame that her relationship with Picasso overshadowed her talent.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
From the top of my mind I can't really think of any women being reduced to the role of a muse, but history knows plenty exemples of women whose work were underestimated in comparison to their husbands or partners. Princess Diana, Jacqueline Kennedy or Yoko Ono are just a few women whose achievements were recognized too late.
I never heard about Dora.
I've searched for her work and I really like some of her pictures. The style she presents is very interesting and the pictures came from under her brush have something magical in it.
2.Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
I am afraid I never heard of any examples. But it might be interesting to look for some. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to do it.
Honestly - no, but she is really interesting person I really like to learn more about her work
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Not really, but I am so curious about that i will do my homework in this case
Yes, I heard about her earlier when I got acquainted with the biography of Picasso. I'm not a fan of her works, but they are pretty attractive actually. At that moment I also got acquainted with her works and thought that they were no worse than Picasso’s own, therefore her place in the art gallery, especially her photographs, was quite successful, as it seems to me. Well, in general, she is a very famous person, really one of the most famous muses.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Yes, this question is very handy, to be honest, because only yesterday I read an article about Hubert de Givenchy, we know him by his famous fashion brand which everyone know. So it was written in it that his regular clinents, who were the embodiment of the style of his brand, were Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy.
I’ve heard about Dora but, as you mentioned, more as muse figure rather than an artist herself. I didn’t know much of her work, to be honest. I rather know her from Picasso’s paining that you attached in your presentation.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional women being reduced to the role of a muse?
Maybe, this will not an exact answer to your question as I don’t really know any other examples but I know about Frida Kahlo who was an exceptional artist, mostly known from her self-portraits. She was also known from her feminism activity. I think this is very important, given the fact that she lived in Mexico which is quite patriarchic country.
2. Unfortunately, at this moment I can't remember any known example of such a muse. I think that in many cases the story could have been similar, unfortunately the finale too.
Unfortunately, no. I haven't heard about her, but I would search for more of her works and try to learn more about her and her works. I like the style of her photographs and her story was sad but very interesting.
2. Do you know any other example of an exceptional woman being reduced to the role of a muse?
Unfortunately, no. Maybe, that because we don't know all the truth about all of the famous works. Because I think it is not an exceptional case. If we would dig a bit more we could find a lot of examples and I think it is very sad.