Lot Essay
In this work, Picabia presents the legendary Kiki de Montparnasse. Born Alice Prin in 1901, Kiki epitomized the carefree wild days of Paris during the roaring twenties, spending her days and nights in the famed caf in Montparnasse. She befriended and posed for artists such as Calder, Soutine, Duchamp, Kisling and Foujita, and her lovers included Maurice Mendjizky and Man Ray.
"Kiki became more of a friend to the artists than a professional model, and she knew everyone. She was a free soul, who did or said whatever she pleased. Always gay and smiling, she charmed everyone at the caf tables with her flow of stories and jokes, which, while racy and vulgar, were never offensive or derisive...She performed her risqu songs at the artists' club, the Jockey...She acted in eight films and posed for inumerable paintings and photographs. At the age of 28 she wrote her memoirs, which became famous all over the world...Kiki was genuinely loved by all who knew her. Even today, the reaction of those who had known her in the twenties, is inevitably a sigh, a smile, and an exclamation, 'Ah, Kiki!'" (B. Klver and J. Martin, Kiki's Paris, Artistis and Lovers 1900-1930, New York, 1989, p.11).
In this mysterious and intriguing portrait, Kiki coyly purses her smiling lips and stares at the viewer with daring, confrontational eyes. Her dark fur coat and deep red hat allude to her stylish flair as well as accentuate the light flesh tones of her face.
"Kiki became more of a friend to the artists than a professional model, and she knew everyone. She was a free soul, who did or said whatever she pleased. Always gay and smiling, she charmed everyone at the caf tables with her flow of stories and jokes, which, while racy and vulgar, were never offensive or derisive...She performed her risqu songs at the artists' club, the Jockey...She acted in eight films and posed for inumerable paintings and photographs. At the age of 28 she wrote her memoirs, which became famous all over the world...Kiki was genuinely loved by all who knew her. Even today, the reaction of those who had known her in the twenties, is inevitably a sigh, a smile, and an exclamation, 'Ah, Kiki!'" (B. Klver and J. Martin, Kiki's Paris, Artistis and Lovers 1900-1930, New York, 1989, p.11).
In this mysterious and intriguing portrait, Kiki coyly purses her smiling lips and stares at the viewer with daring, confrontational eyes. Her dark fur coat and deep red hat allude to her stylish flair as well as accentuate the light flesh tones of her face.