Facts about Fernande Olivier:
Fernande Olivier was born Amélie Lang in 1881 in the garment district of Paris.
Born out-of-wedlock, her mother left her with relatives outside of the city and they treated her poorly.
She was raised by an aunt who took advantage of her and her obliging personality.
Raped by a friend of this family’s, her aunt then forced her to marry the man by shaming her and arranging it all.
Olivier fled both the man and the marriage to Paris and became an artist’s model.
–Fernande Olivier as an artist’s model
She enjoyed the Bohemian lifestyle of Montmartre (of course, she had relationship issues).
–Fernande Olivier
She enjoyed reading and this lead to writing and keeping diaries.
From her diaries when she met Picasso:
For some time now I’ve been bumping into him wherever I go, and he looks at me with his huge deep eyes, sharp but brooding, full of suppressed fire. I don’t find him particularly attractive, but his strangely intense gaze forces me to look at him in return, although I’ve never answered him when he tries to make conversation. I don’t know where to place him on the social scale and I can’t tell how old he is.
Picasso and Olivier lived together for many years at the Bateau Lavoir and she also became good friends with Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.
–photo by Picasso
Picasso genuinely loved Fernande but was a very jealous man and would lock her in his studio at times. One time there was a fire and she had to flee through a window. Picasso stopped that practice.
—Fernande with a Black Mantilla, Pablo Picasso, 1905, oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 31 7/8 inches (100 x 81 cm), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York Thannhauser Collection, Bequest, Hilde Thannhauser, 1991
Picasso wanted to marry Fernande, but she was still married to the man she fled.
After time, the littlest things Fernande did would annoy Picasso.
They broke up but continued living together for a while.
When Fernande was old and almost destitute, she asked Picasso for help and he obliged by giving her a small allotment each month.
Fernande died in 1966. According to the New York Times, someone stole bonds she had bought with some of the money Picasso had given her after she died.
Thanks to Fernande Olivier, we know much more about Picasso and what he was like as a young man, both good and bad.
Sources: museworthy.com, nyt.com, Loving Picasso by Fernande Olivier, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Hi Denise – you are certainly opening eyes here – what a fascinating character Fernande was … such an interesting post – thank you .. cheer Hilary
Yes, I think so, too, Hilary. Glad she decided to keep a diary and then write a book. At the Bateau Lavoir, Picasso’s group did some illegal drugs and that was the reason he gave her for not wanting the book published. I think he just didn’t want anyone knowing anything about him that he was not in control of at the time.
Again- Picasso; so talented, and yet…….so crazy! I’m glad she didn’t die in a fire.
Me, too, Zulu!! Surprised that place wasn’t destroyed by fire before 1970!!
Again, great research, Denise. Olivier was certainly perfect as an artist’s model! And I agree with her assessment about Picasso – not particularly good-looking, but charismatic and magnetic.
She was astute in her observations. I enjoyed reading her diaries! If she had been educated, she would have gone a long way in life. Such a sad beginning.