Muzy artystów – zapomniane twórczynie

Artists’ muses: forgotten creators The article and the preceding speech at the conference organized by Facta Ficta Research Center are devoted to women who, despite their tireless activity in the field of art, function in the wider consciousness as muses, companions or students of famous artists. Through the prism of the works of famous avant-garde artists – Man Ray and Pablo Picasso – portraits of women who had an undeniable impact on the work of both artists, and thus on the course of art history, are presented. Figures such as Kiki de Montparnasse, Lee Miller, Dora Maar and Françoise Gilot are mentioned as a footnote to the master’s biography, forgetting about their often key influence on the process of creating subsequent works. In addition to posing for photos or paintings, they honed their skills and devoted themselves to independent creativity, which, however, remained overshadowed by the achievements of their brilliant partners, for which many paid a high price. These „muses” deserve their own independent story. Each of them was active in the Parisian bohemian milieu, witnessing and co-creating the emerging avant-garde.