Pierre Delbo. Marie Vassilieff’s doll 1927

Pierre Delbo. Marie Vassilieff’s dolls 1927

The French-Russian artist Marie Vassilieff, active in Paris between the wars, created puppets representing many famous artists of the School of Paris during the interwar period, many of which were presented at several exhibitions, often organized by her patron, the French fashion designer Paul Poiret (1879-1944). She created a new genre of portrait sculpture, which served as effigies, souvenirs, and decorative objects for the Parisian avant-garde of the interwar period. Her portraits dolls are part of the history of avant-garde marionettes and puppets, used notably in the shows of Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Hannah Höch, but also responded to an interest.