Tamara de Lempicka (1898 - 1980), Art Deco Painter

I really admire the work of Tamara de Lempicka. I’m huge admirer of the art deco period and her style encompasses many elements of the era. Her works have such a distinct and bold form and use of colour. De Lempicka’s paintings have links to modernists and avant-garde artists of the time and her techniques were branded as "soft cubism", by leaving the actual form of the object together and as one but also utilising well known elements of cubism she had created her own style. Drawing from cubism De Lempicka’s portraits have effortless style are clean and precise, yet are sensual and elegant. Many of the ladies in her works appear to simulate the effects of desire and seduction, they are stylish attractive women often placed in unusual angular poses. She painted several self portraits, my favourite being Auto-Portrait (Tamara in the Green Bugatti).

I think it is an iconic image of a modern woman who is independent, yet her expression appears icy and holds an inaccessible or unapproachable beauty; the gloves and helmet she wears give the impression of someone liberated and in control.
I think her work is timeless and will be admired and appreciated for a long time.

References

Lempicka (Taschen Basic Art Series)
Gilles Neret

Art Deco - The Worlds Greatest Art
Various Authors