Tamara Lempicka (1898-1980), La Musicienne, 1996

Color heliogravure, high-grain velin paper, 36 x 27 cm (plate imprint) in light passe-partout, 65 x 55 in frame, limited edition, numbered in pencil 51/150, signed from plate under composition "T. de Lempicka", dry publisher's stamp l. d.: letter K surrounded by the words "EDITION LIMITED IMPRESSION CERTIFIED ART USA EUROPE SINCE 1998". Original certificate. "I have painted kings and prostitutes. I paint those who are inspiring to me and make me feel vibrations." Tamara Lempicka, also known as Tamara de Lempicka, was a Polish-French painter who became one of the most important representatives of art déco in art. Her work is synonymous with the elegance, sensuality and luxury of the 1920s and 1930s. Lempicka is particularly known for her portraits - female and male - and dynamic nudes, which still impress today with their unique style, intense colors and dramatic lighting. Lempicka's style is distinguished by a combination of elegance and sensuality with geometric rigor and precision, typical of art déco. Her paintings have a distinctive "sculptural" form, where figures are depicted with sharply defined contours, adding to their monumentality. Lempicka drew inspiration from Cubism - especially the works of Pablo Picasso and Fernand Léger. The subjects of Lempicka's paintings are mainly related to luxury, beauty, sexuality and individualism. Images of strong women, often in seductive poses, have become her trademark. Her portraits are often symbols of the modern woman - liberated, confident and aware of her sexuality. Tamara Lempicka drew inspiration from modern metropolitan life. Many of her paintings were created while she lived in Paris - then one of the most important artistic centers. She was closely connected with the artistic and intellectual elite, and her social contacts included the aristocracy, wealthy art collectors and artists. These connections contributed to her popularity as a portraitist and brought her numerous commissions. Tamara Lempicka became known as one of the most important representatives of art déco and continues to inspire many contemporary artists, designers and fashion creators today. Her works are often reproduced and her style is considered extremely modern, despite the passage of time. Lempicka's work is valued for its elegance, expressiveness and unique ability to capture the spirit of the era - a time when art, fashion and social change were intertwined in an intense and fascinating way.