Salvador Dali & The Surrealists: The Argillet Collection | Page 43

L e o nor F i n i

1908-1996

Italian painter, surrealism representative, Leonor Fini was born
in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she was raised in Trieste, Italy. Was
influenced by Carlo Carra.  At the age of 17 Fini moved to Paris.
She took part in the exhibitions of surrealists although having
definite disagreements with them on feministic ground.
An artist of the unconscious, she created a surreal world. Leonor
Fini designed settings and costumes for ballet, opera and theater.
In 1970, she created all the costumes and scenery for the erotic
and freethinking play The Council of Love by Oskar Panizza. After
the representation Pierre Argillet asked her to illustrate the play.
Fini’s women are highlighted by mysterious cat-like eyes and
eroticism. Her plates stand our for their magic, irony and the
element of game. Mastery of execution and lightness are the
distinctive features of the painter.
“Paintings, like dreams, have
a life of their own and I have
always painted very much the
way I dream.”
—FINI

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DETAIL: Untitled 13