A Fellow Surrealist
A surrealist in her own right, Maar was a photographer and a painter. She was born in 1907 in Paris with the full name of Henriette Theodora Markovitch. She would also get involved in politics and the social climate of her time. Her first artistic endeavors were in photography, which is how she ended up getting involved with the Parisian art scene that eventually led her to meet Picasso. The two were pulled to each other like magnets and embarked on a tumultuous romantic journey that would last almost a decade, not minding the 25-year age gap between them. As it often is with artists, emotions, as well as passion, ran high, for better or for worse. For years they inspired, explored, and challenged each other, creating as they go.
This relationship has birthed several of Picasso’s paintings, all depicting and centered around Dora. One of them is the famous “Weeping Woman.” Also a cubist piece, this painting depicts Dora’s face crying and twisted in anguish and is obviously inspired by their bad times. Another painting is “Dora Maar au Chat,” which depicts her as she is sitting on a chair with a black can on her shoulder. It is said that Maar disliked cats and that painting her with one was Picasso’s way of asserting dominance. Sounds like their connection was as complicated as it was passionate.
Maar passed away in 1997 in the ripe old age of 89. She was survived by her artistic legacy, which still lives on.