Tamara de Lempicka(1898 — 1980)
Tamara de Lempicka
Empire russe, Pologne
7 min read
Polish-born painter (1898-1980)
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
Works & Achievements
An iconic painting showing the artist in an elegant and modern pose, embodying the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. This work has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Art Deco and twentieth-century modernity.
A portrait depicting a high-society woman with the distinctive hallmarks of Lempicka's style: clean geometry, vibrant colors, and sophisticated elegance. The work exemplifies her talent as a portraitist of the Parisian elite.
An allegorical composition celebrating feminine beauty and sensuality, characterized by the smooth forms and warm tones typical of Lempicka's style. This work demonstrates her mastery of the human figure in an approach that is both classical and modernist.
A portrait of a young woman wearing a green dress, exemplifying the refinement and elegance of Lempicka's portraiture. The work showcases her distinctive technique of geometric modeling and subtle interplay of light.
A painting depicting a woman playing a musical instrument, illustrating Lempicka's interest in scenes of intimacy and culture. The work combines formal elegance with the dynamic energy characteristic of Art Deco.
A still life exploring the geometric forms and vivid colors intrinsic to Art Deco modernism. These compositions demonstrate the artist's versatility beyond portraiture.
Anecdotes
Tamara de Lempicka was born in Warsaw in 1898 into a wealthy aristocratic family. During the Russian Revolution, she fled Russia with her husband and settled in Paris in the 1920s, where she quickly became famous for her glamorous portraits of celebrities and wealthy clients during the Roaring Twenties.
The painter developed a highly distinctive style by combining Cubist geometric forms with a smooth, polished finish, giving her portraits a look that was both modern and timeless. Her revolutionary approach made her one of the most sought-after women artists of the Art Deco era.
Among Tamara de Lempicka's notable works is the portrait of the Duchess of La Rochefoucauld, and she exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants in Paris. Her works stand out for their elegance, technical precision, and flattering depictions of Parisian high society.
Despite achieving great success in France and across Europe, Tamara chose to leave Europe and move to the United States in 1939, fleeing the mounting tensions of World War II. She continued her career there while staying true to her signature Art Deco style until her death in 1980.
Tamara de Lempicka's works, largely forgotten after her death, experienced a spectacular rediscovery from the 1970s onward. Today she is recognized as one of the great figures of Art Deco, and her paintings fetch very high prices in museums and galleries around the world.
Primary Sources
I always believed that art should be beautiful and joyful, not sad. I painted happy people, people who enjoyed life.
Tamara de Lempicka exhibits her portraits with geometric forms and vivid colors, embodying the modern spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
My art rejects nostalgia and the melancholy of the past. I paint modernity, speed, contemporary life with its vibrant colors.
I am the artist of my time. Art Deco is not a trend — it is a philosophy of life that celebrates beauty, luxury, and the harmony of form.
Key Places
Tamara de Lempicka's birthplace in 1898. The Polish capital shaped her origins and early upbringing before she emigrated to Western Europe.
The center of her artistic career during the Roaring Twenties (1920–1930). Paris is where she became a portraitist of high society and developed her distinctive Art Deco style.
An important city in her artistic development, where she studied and refined her craft before settling permanently in Paris.
A significant stop in her career, where she held exhibitions and continued painting the British social elite in her Art Deco style.
The city where she settled in exile after 1941 and entered her final creative phase. She continued her work as a portraitist and became a notable figure in American modern art.
Her late-career home and artistic base, where she continued to paint and exhibit her work until her death in 1980.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Autoportrait dans la Bugatti verte (Tamara in the Green Bugatti)
1929
La Belle Rafaëla
1927
Portrait de la Duchesse de La Salle
1925
Portrait d'Ira P.
1930
