Marie LAURENCIN

Do you own a work by Marie Laurencin and would you like to know more about its value? Our Experts will carry out a free appraisal of your painting, to provide you with an estimate of the market price, then assist you to sell at the best price.

Status, price and estimation of the artist Marie Laurencin

Price of a painting signed Laurencin: 8,000 – 300,000€.

Estimate of a drawing or watercolour by the artist for auction: 1,000 – 50,000€.

Artist’s status for the print: 100 – 1,000€.

If you would like to have a painting by the artist appraised, our experts are at your disposal for a free appraisal.

“The Lady of Cubism”

Marie Laurencin (1883-1956) was a French illustrator, portraitist, engraver and poet. Despite starting her career as a schoolteacher, she attended drawing and engraving classes at the Sèvres school and at the Humbert Academy, in the workshops of Francis Picabia and Georges Braque. Braque introduced her to Pierre Roché who then became Laurencin’s patron and lover.

In parallel with drawing, she explored poetry and published a few poems in 1909 in Le Présent. She exhibited for the first time at the Salon des Indépendants in 1907, then in 1912 at the Salon de la Section d’or.

A year later, her works were shown alongside those of Picasso, Braque, Léger and Delaunay at the Sturm Gallery in Berlin.

As a free woman for her time, she had many relationships, whether with men, such as her great love Apollinaire, or with women, such as Nicole Groult. When war broke out in 1919, along with her husband, painter Otto von Watgen, she was forced into exile in Spain.

In 1921, after her divorce, she returned to Paris.

In 1935, the artist was awarded the Legion of Honour and two years later participated in the 1937 World’s Fair.

She died in 1956 due to a heart attack. She is buried in Père-Lachaise cemetery, in a white dress and with a letter from Guillaume Apollinaire in her hand, according to her last wishes.

Between Cubism and Dadaism

During her years at the Académie Humbert she was able to meet the artists of the Bateau-Lavoir, including Picasso. Picasso introduced her to Guillaume Apollinaire, and she became his companion and muse from 1907 to 1914.

This relationship had a profound effect on Marie Laurencin’s life and work, right up until her death. Often described as a simple muse and observer, she had to fight in a man’s world to make a place for herself. Max Jacob, Lewis Carroll, Gide, Marcel Jouhandeau and Jean Paulhan are some of the writers she frequented and who called on her for the illustrations of some of their works.

At the origin of nymphism

Alongside the artists of the Bateau-Lavoir, she took part in the birth of modern art by seeking to transgress the artistic standards in force, notably Cubism and Dadaism. Her simple and poetic pictorial style with elongated feminine forms and soft, harmonious colours earned her a place in the worldly Paris of the 1920s.

This personal touch by the artist is called “nymphism”, differing from both the Fauvism and cubism of the time.

She did not only produce female portraits, but also sets and costumes for ballets by Poulenc, Cocteau and Roland Petit. In the 1970s, a new craze was created around Marie Laurencin, following the song L’Été Indien by Joe Dassin.

Recognising Marie Laurencin’s signature

Like many artists, Marie Laurencin did not sign all of his works. However, you will find below an example of a signature in order to give you a first idea. Variations of this signature exist: do not hesitate to contact one of our experts to authenticate a signature in a formal way.

Appraising and selling a painting by Marie Laurencin

If you own a painting or any other sculpture by Marie Laurencin, ask for a free estimate via our online form.

You will then be contacted by a member of our team of experts and auctioneers to give you an independent view of the market price of your painting. In the event of a sale, our specialists will also advise you on the various options available to sell your work at the best price.