Outline

The painter Marie Laurencin (1883-1956) was also known for her poetry and her many friends among the poets of her day. Perhaps the most famous among her poems is Le Calmant, which ends,
　...worse than being dead even more pathetic is being a forgotten woman."

For a collection of poetry that friends published in 1922 as a tribute to Marie the title The Fan was chosen. The fan was suggestive of an elegant and mysterious woman, and it had become Marie Laurencin’s symbol.

Knowing this, the word fan becomes a key word associated with the world of Marie Laurencin in two dimensions, first in connection with painting and poetry and secondly in connection with the “feminine world.” The lyrical underpinnings of Marie’s paintings can be seen as a fusion of color and poetry and the world she painted was a woman’s dream kingdom defined by elegance, sophistication and allure that could indeed be likened to the fan.

In this exhibition, through the cooperation of the Musée Marie Laurencin, we are able to present not only representative oil paintings spanning the artist’s career and its development, from youth through to her late period, but also a number of self-portraits and book illustrations from different periods of her life. In all, these works to be displayed total 33. As the opening of a fan reveals beautiful patterns not visible when it is closed, we hope that these works will reveal new emotions and rewarding discoveries to the viewer.

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Programs

Gallery Talks by Curator (in Japanese)

January 26, February 20, March 13
14:00－15:00 First 40 arrivals
 

Guided Tours of the Entire Building by Guide Staff (in Japanese)

14:00－15:00 every day except on Lecture or Curator Gallery Talk days
First 40 arrivals
 

Audio Guide (in Japanese)

Contains recorded explanations of the Museum collection and the Laurencin exhibition
Rental fee: 500 yen per headse