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Everyone looked at Kiki. But what did Kiki see?

The life and work of Alice Prin, the woman who became Kiki de Montparnasse.

I first wrote about Kiki de Montparnasse in my book The HeArt of Paris.

The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to look beyond the famous images and discover the woman behind them.

Alice Prin had many men in her life, but she was far more than someone’s muse or lover. She was a performer, painter and writer, and a remarkable woman who was loved by many.

After writing about the women in my book, women who played a role in the evolution of art in Paris from 1850 to 1940, I felt inspired to paint them.

I created my impression of Kiki with brushes and palette knives. The name La Coupole appears in the painting, connecting her to the Montparnasse world where she sang and performed. I filled her dress with symbols that express women’s strength and empowerment.

Symbolism has since become part of all the women’s paintings I have created.

Now, in 2026, an exhibition in Kiki’s hometown is bringing her own paintings and drawings back into view alongside the famous images of her.

Read the complete story about Kiki on Substack: