HÉLÈNE DE BEAUVOIR

Hélène de Beauvoir, often overshadowed by her older sister, the writer Simone de Beauvoir, was a remarkable artist whose works are held in museum collections world wide. Hélène was also important to the global feminist movement alongside her sister. 

Editor Annalisa Tacoli notes Picasso was an admirer of Hélène’s paintings. Picasso became familiar with de Beauvoir’s work when the artist had her first solo exhibition in Paris in 1936 at Galerie Jacques Bonjean, a gallery cofounded by Christian Dior, who began his career as an art dealer before becoming a fashion powerhouse. Galerie Bon- jean also exhibited the work of Picasso, Braque, Dali and much like Hélène even gave Leonor Fini her first solo exhibition.

​

In Tout compte fait (1972), one of Simone de Beauvoir's autobiographical works, she wrote collaborating with Hélène was something she had longed wished for. In 1967 one hundred and forty three first edition copies of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Woman De- stroyed were published by Gallimard with sixteen etchings by Hélène.

​

This incredibly important book in feminist ideology was the first time the de Beauvoir sisters collaborated together. Publisher Gallimard was afraid that the publication of such 'feminine' literature would give it the mark of a publisher intent on overturning the social order.

​

In 1964, Satre was awarded the Nobel prize in literature which he rejected as he did not wish to be “transformed” by such an award. After rejecting the award Satre tried to es- cape the media by hiding in the house of Hélène in Goxwiller, Alsace. Satre and Simone de Beauvoir remained close with Hélène, regularly attending her exhibitions and studio and immersing her with their electric circle including Cocteau, and Lionel de Roulet, whom Hélène married.

Claudine Monteil, the women’s rights specialist who knew both Simone and Hélène, details in her book The Beauvoir Sisters, that the two sisters shared a close bond and artis- tic influence on one another, but also about the jealousy and rivalry. Monteil also high- lights how these two remarkable women came together to help launch the modern women’s movement and make a mark on the world.

HÈLÈNE DE BEAUVOIR IN SELECTED COLLECTIONS AND MUSEUMS

Centre Pompidou
Uffizi Museum, Florence
Oxford University
Musée Würth France Erstein
Museum of modern and contemporary art of the City of Strasbourg

The royal library of the Netherlands