Leonor Fini (1907 - 1996)
COLLECTION: Les chats de Madame Helvétius
OUR NAME: Cat in Royal Gown
MEDIUM: Original Etching
SIGNATURE: Signed lower right and annotated 57/150 lower left
SIZE: 56 x 38cm (22.05 x 14.96 in)
Image is ACTUAL ARTWORK
Leonor Fini was a remarkable Argentine-Italian artist whose work spanned seven decades of the 20th century. Born in Buenos Aires in 1907, Fini spent most of her childhood in Trieste, Italy, where she developed her artistic talents without formal training.
Fini emerged as a significant figure in the Parisian art scene of the 1930s, associating with Surrealists but never formally joining the movement. Her unique style blended elements of Surrealism, Symbolism, and Mannerism, creating a distinctive visual language that explored themes of female power, sexuality, and metamorphosis.
- Exhibited internationally, including in the landmark 1943 exhibition "31 Women" at Peggy Guggenheim's New York gallery
- Designed costumes and sets for theater, ballet, and opera productions
- Illustrated numerous books, including works by Charles Baudelaire and Edgar Allan Poe
- Created designs for fashion and perfume, including the iconic bottle for Schiaparelli's "Shocking" fragrance
Cats played a central role in Fini's life and art, serving as both companions and muses. Her deep connection to felines is evident throughout her oeuvre:
- Cats appeared in Fini's earliest paintings and continued to feature in her work until the mid-1990s
- She often used cats as symbols of feminine power and mystery
- Feline elements were incorporated into her hybrid creatures, most notably the sphinx figure that became her signature motif
- Fini was known to care for up to 17 cats at one time
- Her love for cats reflected her interest in the duality of civilized and beastly nature in humans.
Leonor Fini's work challenged gender norms and explored the complexities of female identity. Her paintings, with their powerful women and passive men, subverted traditional roles and continue to resonate with contemporary audiences. Fini's legacy as an independent, self-taught artist who forged her own path in the male-dominated art world of her time remains an inspiration to many.
Fini passed away in Paris in 1996, leaving behind a rich body of work that spans painting, illustration, design, and literature. Her unique vision and the recurring presence of feline imagery in her art have secured her place as one of the most intriguing and influential artists of her generation.