Life after Picasso: Why the Russian wife of a famous artist spent the last 20 years alone and oblivious

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

64 years ago, on February 11, 1955, Olga Khokhlova passed away. The general public probably only knows about the ballerina from Nizhyn that she emigrated from the Russian Empire and became the wife of Pablo Picasso. Officially, she remained in this status until the end of her days, although in fact she had to spend many years in complete solitude, away from her husband and son, resigned to their contempt, which almost deprived her of her mind …

Abroad, she was called "the Russian wife of Picasso", but in fact Olga Khokhlova was born on the territory of modern Ukraine, which was then part of the Russian Empire - in the city of Nizhyn. Her father, Stepan Khokhlov, was a colonel in the tsarist army. Olga spent her childhood in Nizhyn, and then her father was transferred to St. Petersburg. There Khokhlova began to study ballet at a private school. Despite the fact that this happened quite late for the dancer - at the age of 14 - her diligence and perseverance soon brought her to the troupe of Sergei Diaghilev. The creator of "Russian Seasons" did not trust her the main roles, but included in the first corps de ballet.

Since 1911 Olga Khokhlova toured with the troupe in Europe and the USA. Then she had not yet imagined that she would stay to live abroad. In 1915, she visited her relatives in Russia for the last time, and then went on a foreign tour again. Contemporaries left very controversial reviews about her creative abilities: some called her a mediocre dancer who got into Diaghilev's troupe only because of her noble birth, others argued that a perfectionist leader would never have tolerated talentless artists on stage, and what was certainly not to take Khokhlova, is hard work and good technique.

Their acquaintance with Pablo Picasso took place in Rome in 1917, where both worked on the production of Diaghilev's ballet Parade - Picasso took part in creating the scenery. The artist was at that time 35 years old, the dancer - 25. Many of his friends were surprised why he was carried away by this particular ballerina, who was called colorless and ordinary. And Picasso, seeing Khokhlova for the first time, exclaimed: “” However, the dancer did not share his ardor at first - she was chaste and was in no hurry to respond to his courtship. Sergei Diaghilev warned the artist: ""

From Rome, they went on tour to Spain, where Picasso introduced the chosen one to his mother, and her reaction was unexpected. She told Olga: "". Unfortunately, she turned out to be right, only Olga realized this years later.

Meanwhile, a revolution took place in Russia, and Olga found herself cut off from her family - she could no longer return to her homeland, and the connection with loved ones was lost for many years. Later she learned that her father and three brothers had died, and her mother and sister had moved to Georgia. Pablo Picasso turned out to be her only support and support abroad. In 1918 Olga Khokhlova became Picasso's wife. At the insistence of her husband, since then she no longer went on stage. In 1921, the couple had a son, Paul (Paulo).

Very soon the artist realized that they are completely different people. Olga was carried away by the whirlwind of social life, balls and receptions, and he quickly got bored with it. Picasso admitted to one of his acquaintances: "". In fact, their marriage lasted only 10 years, although officially they remained husband and wife until the end of Khokhlova's days. In 1927 g.the artist met 17-year-old Marie-Thérèse Walter, who became his mistress, and a few years later gave birth to his child.

Olga arranged scenes of jealousy, only this was already useless - the husband not only lost interest in her, but soon did not even hide his irritation and contempt. She moved out of their apartment, but instructed her lawyer to make an inventory of all the artist's property in case of divorce. Because of this, Picasso did not dare to divorce her - he was afraid of losing half of his fortune and paintings, which was provided for by the marriage contract. Later, explaining the reasons for their separation, the artist said: "".

Many common family acquaintances claimed that after parting with Picasso, Olga had lost her mind. Fully dedicated to her family, she never learned to live an independent life. Pablo forever remained the only man for her. Olga chased her husband everywhere, stopped him in the streets, shouting curses, sent dozens of letters with photographs of her son, followed him to Cannes. This only made his irritation grow. He took out his anger in the paintings - Olga gradually turned on them from a beautiful goddess into a salon coquette, and then into a shrew with distorted facial features, or even completely into a deformed monster. And the worst thing was that even her son did not need her - since childhood, having surrounded him with excessive care, the mother caused only aggression and disdain in him.

In 1953 Olga Khokhlova learned that she was seriously ill - she had cancer. She spent the last months in the hospital, passing through all her acquaintances requests that her husband visit her. But he never came to her. Her last days were terrible - Olga was left completely alone. All the acquaintances turned away from her. Paulo fell under the influence of his father and, in fact, abandoned his mother, which his daughter Marina later told about: "".

All that she has left from her former life is a chest with suits, letters and photographs, which she constantly went through, remembering her happy past. On February 11, 1955, Olga Khokhlova died at the age of 64. Picasso did not attend her funeral. And 20 years later, their son Paulo died of cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcohol and drugs.

The artist's mother turned out to be right - in relations with all women, he was very cruel: Pablo Picasso and his victims.