01/25/18 - Argentine artist Leonor Fini is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, although she is also one of the most ignored.

She was born in 1907 in Buenos Aires and, at age 8, she moved to Trieste with her mother, where she received a traditional academic education, which included visits to museums around Italy. In 1931 she travels to Paris, where she befriends Salvador Dalí, Marx Ernst and photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. In fact, Cartier took a photo of her while using a nylon stocking on her head, creating a very particular effect. The photo belongs to the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York and reflects the one-of-a-kind personality of the artist.

At age 25 she presents her first solo exhibition. Years later she is included in an exhibition dedicated to Surrealism at the MoMA in New York. However she was never an active member of the Surrealists, for she had her own vision and preferred to be considered as modern. Her particular feminism transformed her into a celebrity in Paris, more so than her work as an artist. Her paintings always showed a certain sexual tension, with the feminine figure as dominant. 

Femme Costumée (Femme en armure), by Leonor Fini (c 1938)

Technique: oil on canvas / Measures: 13 ¾ x 9 ½ inches

Femme Costumée (Femme en armure), by Leonor Fini (c 1938)

Technique: oil on canvas / Measures:: 13 ¾ x 10 ½ inches

Her first solo exhibition in Paris, the one we mentioned previously, was held at the art gallery that Christian Dior had, before becoming a couturier. A few days ago, Maison Dior presented its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2018 collection, inspired by Leonor Fini. The aim was to pay tribute to the artist that had attracted Monsieur Dior because of her modernism. Probably, in the 30s, her sparkling personality was much more interesting than her works. Dior's designs, as well as the staging of the runway show, were of a forced surrealism, with quotes from André Breton written in the chests of the models, although Fini always said she was not part of such movement. However, is important to see Leonor Fini on the spotlight again.

Little Hermit Sphinx, de Leonor Fini (1948) 

Her biographers believe that her provocative life was her way of positioning herself as an artist in a men's worlds. 

Leonor Fini lived in Paris till her death, in 1996.