Sunday 21st August 2016

MEET ‘UDNIE’, PICABIA’S MUSE AND AMERICA’S FIRST SUPER MODEL

 

 

Once known as “Papa Dada”, Francis Picabia was one of the principle figures of the Dada movement both in Paris and New York. A friend and associate of Marcel Duchamp, he became known for his rich variety of work ranging from strange, comic-erotic images of machine parts to text-based paintings that foreshadow aspects of Conceptual art. He shifted easily between abstraction and figuration at a time when artists clung steadfastly to one approach, and his gleeful disregard for the conventions of modern art encouraged some remarkable innovations even later in his career, from the layered Transparency series (c.1928-31) of the 1920s to the kitsch, erotic nudes of the early 1940s.   Picabia remains revered by contemporary painters as one of the century’s most intriguing and inscrutable artists.

 

 

But “WHO WAS UDNIE?” this is a question which has plagued scholars of Francis Picabia for years as they searched  for the subject ‘inconnue’ of his 1913 painting ‘Udnie (Jeune Fille Améraine; Danse).

Now, thanks to James Bone’s new book, ‘The Curse of Beauty‘ the riddle may be solved.

 

In his book Bone makes the convincing case that “Udnie” is a rough pun on “Audrey” and since Picabia completed a second work on his return to Paris entitled; ‘Je revois en souvenir ma chére Udnie (1914), now in MoMa’s collection – he probably used a real model.

‘The Curse of Beauty’  is a biography of the model and silent-film actress Audrey Munson. Bone reveals how Munson posed for Picabia during his first trip to New York, the same year the painting was made. Apparently, however, the exquisite Audrey despised the artist.  In her own words; “Meeting and knowing Picabia, one would think him to be one of those hangers-on at the fringe of art who, failing to attract attention by any other means, adopt long hair and unkempt grooming as a distinguishing mark”.  Audrey recalled how she “posed for him for several days, but never in still position.  He had me walk about the studio in different lights, taking different postures.  He wanted to paint me in action, he said, not in repose”.

Audrey Munson in Heedless Moths,  (1921)

Known as “the world’s most perfectly formed woman”, Munson worked with artists from Gertrude Whitney to Alexander Calder. Her figure can still be seen on Beaux-Arts buildings all over New York.  Eventually Audrey’s fame led her to act in silent films and she became the first US movie star to appear naked, in ‘Inspiration‘ (1915).

Tragically, after moving to the West Coast to make further films, Munson suffered a psychological collapse and was committed by her mother to an asylum in upstate New York.  She remained there for 65 years, until her death aged 104.

Immortalized in paint – where are the Muses whose images continue to fascinate us?

When Picasso died on April 8, 1973, Jacqueline, who had been with Picasso for 20 years, prevented Picasso’s children Claude and Paloma from attending his funeral.  Jacqueline died from shooting herself in 1986.

Best Wishes

Claire Moore, BA(Hons)

GALLERY MANAGER

 

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