Marie Laurencin — Les Biches

Marie Laurencin's Les Biches was originally created as a backdrop design for the ballet of the same name, and the actual stage set was built from this painting. At the center of the composition stands a woman, encircled by deer-like dogs, a mermaid, and a white dog. This radiating arrangement, spreading outward from the center, gives the whole scene a sense of dynamic motion. Around the time she was working on this piece, Laurencin also painted a portrait of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, founder of the fashion house, but that portrait was rejected. Les Biches, however, became a tremendous success — as did the ballet it was created for.