Marie Vassilieff: Modern Woman Artist | France 24 Interview with Dr. Lauren Jimerson

Join us for an enlightening interview featuring Dr. Lauren Jimerson, art historian and author of "Painting Her Pleasure," hosted by Delano D'Souza, as they delve into the life and work of Marie Vassilieff, one of the greatest untold stories of modern art. In this captivating discussion, Dr. Jimerson explores Vassilieff's revolutionary contributions to the Parisian avant-garde movement, highlighting her unique approach to art and her defiance of conventional norms. "Marie Vassilieff is a rare example of a female Cubist who was at the critical nexus of the avant-garde, and one of the few who pursued an intensive study of the body in art," Jimerson states. Vassilieff launched an academy in Montparnasse where myriad artists studied from models of mixed genders and races. During WWI, she opened a canteen that became a central hub of avant-garde activity, solace and merriment during the darkest of times. By examining Vassilieff's work, we shed light on the crucial role women played in advancing modernism, often overshadowed by their male counterparts like Matisse and Picasso. Vassilieff's exploration of androgyny and non-binary representations in her art challenged traditional gender roles, expressing a fluid and multifaceted view of identity. Key Highlights: Marie Vassilieff's journey from Russia to studying with Matisse in Paris to becoming a prominent figure in the avant-garde community of Montparnasse. Insight into Vassilieff's innovative art academy, the Académie Marie Vassilieff before WWI, and her canteen during the war, including the epic event, Banquet Braque. The significance of Vassilieff's Cubist works, and how she pushed Cubism further through her androgynous and non-binary nudes. Vassilieff's invention of "poupée-portraits" (portrait dolls) and their departure from traditional art forms. Works shown include: Marie Vassilieff, Femme assise (Seated woman), c. 1913, oil on canvas, private collection Marie Vassilieff, Homme et femme (Man and Woman), c. 1911-1914, oil on canvas (double sided), private collection Marie Vassilieff, "Poupée-Autoportrait" (Doll Self-Portrait), c. 1920-29, hair, glass beads, paint and goat leather (mask), private collection Marie Vassilieff, "Banquet Braque," January 14, 1917, 1917, gouache sur carton, private collection Jean Cocteau, Photograph of Marie Vassilieff with Picasso and other artists, August 12, 1916, gelatin silver print, private collection Cami Stone, "Marie Vassilieff et son effigie," 1929, Photograph by Cami Stone, private collection Discover more about Marie Vassilieff's extraordinary contributions to modern art and her lasting legacy in this insightful interview. The artists who congregated at her academy and canteen included: André Derain, Amedeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, Chana Orloff, Fernand Léger, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Jacques Lipchitz, Juan Gris, Maria Blanchard, Ossip Zadkine, Othon Friesz, Pablo Picasso, Sonia Delaunay, Suzanne Valadon, among others. For more information on Dr. Jimerson's book, "Painting Her Pleasure," visit: www.artwfriends.com/painting-her-pleasure Special thanks to Paris Muse for facilitating this interview. ‪@France24_en‬ ‪@FRANCE24‬ ‪@ParisMuse‬