Finding Dora Maar: An Artist, an Address Book, a Life

By Brigitte Benkemoun

Book Overview

" A] spirited and deeply researched project.... Benkemoun's] affection for her subject is infectious. This book gives a satisfying treatment to a woman who has been confined for decades to a Cubist's limited interpretation." -- Joumana Khatib, The New York Times

Merging biography, memoir, and cultural history, this compelling book, a bestseller in France, traces the life of Dora Maar through a serendipitous encounter with the artist's address book.

In search of a replacement for his lost Herm s agenda, Brigitte Benkemoun's husband buys a vintage diary on eBay. When it arrives, she opens it and finds inside private notes dating back to 1951--twenty pages of phone numbers and addresses for Balthus, Brassa , Andr Breton, Jean Cocteau, Paul luard, Leonor Fini, Jacqueline Lamba, and other artistic luminaries of the European avant-garde.

After realizing that the address book belonged to Dora Maar--Picasso's famous "Weeping Woman" and a brilliant artist in her own right--Benkemoun embarks on a two-year voyage of discovery to learn more about this provocative, passionate, and enigmatic woman, and the role that each of these figures played in her life.

Longlisted for the prestigious literary award Prix Renaudot, Finding Dora Maar is a fascinating and breathtaking portrait of the artist.

This work received support from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States through their publishing assistance program.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1606066595
• ISBN13: 9781606066591
• Release Date: May 2020
• Publisher: Getty Publications
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Dora Maar. Weaves relationships amongst 20th Century artistic personalities

Dora Maar is much more than a list of who's who in 20th Century arts. Although focused on France, especially Paris, primarily 1930s - 1950s, it's interesting to have a list of Apollanaire's associates on hand as some are carryovers from that earlier time! Presentation of antics, foibles, intrigue, politics, wars, trauma and drama of the era keep the book moving and make for a very interesting read!