Describe the characteristics of the Dora Maar in this artwork's Background.
Two months after the birth of Maya in 1935, Picasso attended the opening of a movie, where he was introduced to Dora Maar, by the French poet Paul Éluard. Born Henriette Théodora Markovitch, she was a talented photographer, an intellectual, and involved in the Surrealist movement. Maar initially trained as a painter in the 1920s but became interested in photography. By 1931, she had opened a studio and renamed herself Dora Maar. Maar and Picasso began a relationship and, in August 1936, Picasso spent time apart from Walter by taking a trip to Mougins with Maar alongside Paul Éluard and his wife, Roland Penrose and his wife, and Man Ray and his mistress. In September 1936, Walter was offered Picasso's home at Le Tremblay-sur-Mauldre, located 28 miles from Paris. This provided Picasso with the freedom to maintain both relationships over a period of three years. Over the course of their relationship, Picasso's portrayals of his mistress changed. Initially he depicted her as a nymph or a bird, but by 1937, his paintings had begun to portray her in tears, most notably in The Weeping Woman. As well as being emotionally fractious, Maar's relationship with Picasso was influential in terms of his artwork and political outlook. Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern commented, "He trusted her. As much as being a sexual or emotional relationship, it was a collaborative one".Picasso made efforts to ensure that Walter and Maar would not meet, but eventually they did. According to Picasso, the tension between his two mistresses reached a crisis point in 1937, while he was in the process of finishing Guernica. Picasso related a story to Françoise Gilot of a day when both women had arrived at his studio at the same time and had begun arguing. In her memoir titled Life with Picasso, Gilot recalled that Picasso had said, "I kept on painting and they kept on arguing". Walter had demanded that Picasso should choose between them. Picasso stated, "I was satisfied with things as they were. I told them they'd have to fight it out for themselves. So they began to wrestle. It's one of my choicest memories". Picasso continued to maintain both relationships with his mistresses after the outbreak of World War II. Picasso spent the war in occupied Paris. By 1945, his relationship with Maar had come to an end. Picasso had subjected her to physical and emotional abuse and she consequently suffered a nervous breakdown. After the war, Picasso relocated to the South of France with Françoise Gilot, his new partner, with whom he had two children.
Dora Maar Surrealist Le Tremblay-sur-Mauldre Tate Modern Françoise Gilot Roland Penrose Maya The Weeping Woman Guernica Surrealist movement Paul Éluard Mougins Man Ray South of France World War II