The Life and Art of Mariette Lydis
Born Marietta Ronsperger in Baden, Austria, Mariette Lydis was a painter, illustrator, printmaker, and draftsperson. Her artistic journey began as a self-taught artist, gaining entry into the Parisian art circles after traveling to France in 1925. Throughout her career, she became a member of the Salon d’Automne and held a solo exhibit at the Galerie Bernheim. Her work was characterized by a heavy reliance on line, emphasizing illustration over decoration. She utilized various media, including pencil, watercolor, charcoal, etching, oil, and lithography, producing works such as prints, hand-colored drypoints, and detailed technical drawings.
Lydis's career transitioned through two distinct phases. Her early period focused on darker, sadder subjects, portraying the dispossessed, the sick, criminals, and the elderly. In later years, her work became brighter, shifting her focus toward the depiction of women, adolescents, and young children. Her lithographic depictions often celebrated lesbian and bisexual relationships, sometimes portraying women in active-passive roles through masculine-looking features. She also drew inspiration from Koran decoration and was influenced by the Japanese artist Tsuguharu Foujita.
Exhibitions and Legacy
Lydis's illustrations were featured in works by numerous authors, including:
After fleeing Paris during World War II, she lived in Argentina with her partner, Erica Marx, for much of the 1940s. She eventually returned to France before returning to Buenos Aires due to the political tensions of the Cold War. Before her death, she donated her work to the Museo Sívori in Buenos Aires. Her art is held in various institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.
