Life story and paintings of Maria Blanchard
Spain, the crossroad of civilizations and religions, the country of gypsies and flamenco, the hotbed of art and architecture. Think the court art of Velazquez, nudes and ghosts of de Goya, elongated El Greco. At the helm of avantgarde, creating a history of artistic innovation, Pablo, Salvador, Huan. Think Gaudi, Sagrada Familia and park Gueil. Oh, Spain…you are my soulmate!
And, among these giants of art, not widely known but equal nonetheless, a physically disadvantaged, dwarfed woman. Maria, shoulder to shoulder with Picasso; embracing modernism of different brands, from fauvism to cubism and surrealism, merging them with Spanish themes and traditions into a unique painting style. Disillusioned with Spanish conservatism, even when proclaimed ‘modern’, she spends most of her life in the circle of Montparnasse avantgarde artists of the day, Picasso, Rivera, Modigliani… A dwarf woman of a ‘tall’ presence, an invisible great. This is a life story of the Spanish painter Maria Blanchard, insulted and mocked for her deformities, accepted and respected by a circle of great artists, yet, until recently overshadowed by their fame that she equally deserved.
Maria, who yearned for a trace of physical beauty, while creating a lasting beauty of vivid colors, deconstructed in cubist and reconstructed again in figurative and symbolic compositions laden with emotions and personal reflections. Embraced into our close to heart circle with open arms and reflective mood.
Coincidentally, on the same date as the story of Maria Blanchard was presented to our group, another woman artist, Francoise Gilot, celebrated her 100th birthday. For a former muse of Pablo Picasso (and wife of Jonas Salk), it took only 100 years to become ‘It Girl’ on pages of the New York Times!
Left Brain Artists 