Olga Khokhlova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olga Picasso
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Khokhlova in Afternoon of a Faun, c. 1916
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Olga Stepanovna Khokhlova
17 June 1891 Nizhyn, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire
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| Died | 11 February 1955 (aged 63) Cannes, France
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| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Years active | 1915–1918 |
| Known for | Dancer for the Ballets Russes, wife of Pablo Picasso |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Paul (Paulo) Picasso |
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Olga Picasso (born Olga Stepanovna Khokhlova; 17 June 1891 – 11 February 1955) was a famous Russian ballet dancer. She danced with the world-renowned Ballets Russes, an exciting dance troupe directed by Sergei Diaghilev. While performing in Europe, she met the famous artist Pablo Picasso. The two fell in love and were soon married. Olga became one of Picasso's greatest artistic inspirations. She was the mother of his eldest son, Paul (Paulo). Her life was full of art, travel, dance, and colorful history.
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Contents
Who Was Olga Khokhlova in Her Early Years?
Olga Stepanovna Khokhlova was born on 17 June 1891. Her birthplace was the town of Nizhyn, located in the Chernigov Governorate of the Russian Empire. Today, this historic town is part of modern Ukraine. Her father, Stepan Khokhlov, served as a brave colonel in the Imperial Russian Army. Her mother, Lydia Zinchenko, was of Ukrainian descent and cared for their large family.
Olga grew up in a busy household with three brothers and a sister. From a young age, Olga loved graceful movement and stage performance. A close family friend had a sister who joined a dance company. This exciting news inspired young Olga to pursue dance as her true calling. She worked hard every day to develop her skills as a ballerina.
To pursue her dream, Olga traveled to the cultural capital of Saint Petersburg. She enrolled in a private dance academy to learn classical technique. Ballet required strict discipline, physical strength, and hours of daily practice. Olga proved to be a dedicated student with natural grace. Her talent soon caught the attention of professional dance directors.
Joining the World-Famous Ballets Russes
Olga auditioned for the legendary Ballets Russes company, which was founded by Sergei Diaghilev. Diaghilev was famous for bringing together top dancers, composers, and painters. Olga passed her audition and proudly joined the elite touring group. The company traveled across major cultural capitals, performing breathtaking shows.
Being part of this company was an amazing adventure for a young dancer. Olga performed across stages in Europe and later crossed the ocean to America. She danced in famous productions, including the classic work Afternoon of a Faun. She gained valuable stage experience and learned about modern stage design and theatrical storytelling.
How Did Olga Khokhlova Meet Pablo Picasso?
In the spring of 1917, the Ballets Russes began preparing an innovative new show called Parade. This ballet brought together several brilliant creative minds of the era. The witty story was written by the French writer Jean Cocteau. The energetic musical score was created by the French composer Erik Satie.
Sergei Diaghilev invited the Spanish modern painter Pablo Picasso to design the colorful costumes and stage sets. The grand production had its world premiere on 18 May 1917 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Picasso traveled with the dance company to Italy to oversee rehearsals. During these rehearsals, Picasso watched Olga perform in a charming ballet called Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur. He was immediately enchanted by her elegance, beauty, and poise.
Moving to Spain with Picasso
Picasso wanted to spend more time with Olga and get to know her better. When the Ballets Russes left on a major tour of South America, Olga made a big choice. She decided to step away from the touring company to stay with Picasso. The couple traveled together to the sunny coastal city of Barcelona in Spain.
In Barcelona, Picasso proudly introduced Olga to his family members. At first, Picasso's mother felt unsure about her son marrying a foreign dancer. However, Olga was polite, patient, and determined to build a warm relationship with his family. While living in Spain, Olga faced practical difficulties because she did not have a valid passport. She relied on Picasso to help her navigate life in a new country.
Picasso loved painting his new companion in classic Spanish attire. During their stay, he painted Olga Khokhlova in Mantilla, showing her wearing traditional lace. This painting highlighted her quiet dignity and classic beauty. It marked the beginning of Olga serving as his favorite artistic subject.
Returning to France and Getting Engaged
After waiting six months for a travel visa, Olga and Picasso returned together to France. They arrived in Paris and decided to live in separate homes before marriage. Olga took a comfortable room at the Hôtel Lutétia in the center of town. Picasso stayed at his quiet rented villa in the nearby suburb of Montrouge.
To celebrate their joyful engagement, Picasso created one of his most famous masterpieces. He painted Olga in an Armchair, showing her in a fine black dress holding a paper fan. This painting was made in the smooth, realistic style of the master Ingres. It became one of the prize treasures now housed at the Musée Picasso in Paris.
What Was Married Life Like for Olga and Pablo Picasso?
Olga and Picasso were officially married on 12 July 1918. Their wedding ceremony took place at the stunning Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Rue Daru in Paris. Great artists attended the celebration, and writer Jean Cocteau and poet Max Jacob served as official witnesses.
The wedding had originally been planned for May, but Olga suffered a painful foot injury while dancing. Her doctor ordered an operation, and she had to wear a heavy plaster cast on her right leg. The couple postponed their vows until she could stand comfortably. After the wedding, they traveled to the beautiful seaside town of Biarritz for their honeymoon.
They stayed at a splendid villa owned by arts patron Eugenia Errázuriz. While relaxing by the ocean, Picasso made many tender drawings of his new bride. By September 1918, Olga's foot had healed, but she needed long physical therapy. Because of this injury, she decided never to dance in public again.
Setting Up a Grand Home in Paris
In autumn 1918, the newlyweds returned to Paris to find a permanent home. Picasso's trusted art representative, Paul Rosenberg, found them an apartment right next door to his own gallery. The home was located at 23 Rue La Boétie, an elegant street in an upscale neighborhood. The couple moved in just before Christmas in December 1918.
Olga decorated their spacious two-floor home with fine furniture, heavy curtains, and tidy decor. She loved high society, attending glamorous parties, and hosting cultural gatherings for artists. Picasso enjoyed great success as his artwork sold well throughout the city. Their home became a vibrant center for French cultural life.
Welcoming Their Son Paulo
On 4 February 1921, Olga gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Paul Joseph Picasso. The family warmly called him Paulo. Picasso was overjoyed to become a father, and Olga was a devoted, caring mother. Olga took great care to protect young Paulo, watching over his health and schooling closely.
Picasso made countless sketches and paintings of Olga holding Paulo in her arms. These sweet mother-and-child paintings reflected Picasso's classical style of the early 1920s. Olga enjoyed her role as a mother, raising Paulo in their fine Parisian apartment.
Why Did Their Relationship Change Over Time?
As the years passed, life between Olga and Picasso began to change. Olga preferred an orderly lifestyle, fine clothes, and traditional social circles. Picasso, however, was an unconventional artist who loved messy studios and spontaneous adventures. Picasso began to complain about fancy social events and spent more time working alone upstairs.
In the summer of 1922, Olga became quite ill while the family vacationed at the seaside resort of Dinard. She was rushed to a Parisian clinic for emergency medical care. Although she recovered, her health remained delicate over the following years. By 1923, Picasso spent less time with Olga, focusing entirely on his paintings and sculptures.
Growing Apart and Family Struggles
In 1927, Picasso met a young French woman named Marie-Thérèse Walter and began seeing her privately. For several years, he kept this friendship completely hidden from Olga. The family continued spending summers by the sea in Dinard, but tension grew between husband and wife. Olga fell sick again in 1928 and spent long months recovering in hospital clinics.
In 1930, Picasso purchased a grand country estate named Boisgeloup, located northwest of Paris. Picasso set up a large sculpture studio there. Olga and Paulo would visit the estate on weekends, while Picasso worked during the week.
At a giant exhibition at the Galeries Georges Petit in 1932, Picasso displayed dozens of new artworks. Olga realized that Picasso was painting another person and had grown distant. Picasso's art style changed dramatically, turning sharp and stormy. Over Christmas in 1931, he painted dramatic, upset portraits that mirrored the unhappy arguments at home.
Separation and Later Years
In 1935, Olga learned the truth about Picasso's secret companion. Feeling deeply hurt, Olga decided to end their daily life together. She took Paulo, left the Rue La Boétie home, and moved into the Hôtel California in Paris.
French legal rules stated that a couple had to divide all property and paintings equally during a divorce. Picasso did not want to divide his vast collection of art, so he refused to finalize the paperwork. Because of this, Olga remained legally married to Picasso for the rest of her life.
Olga spent her later decades traveling between quiet hotels in Paris and the sunny South of France. She wrote frequent letters to Picasso, expressing her feelings about their family history. On 11 February 1955, Olga passed away in the coastal city of Cannes, France, at the age of sixty-three.
The Descendants of Olga Picasso
Olga's memory lived on through her son and grandchildren, who stayed connected to the art world:
- Her son, Paul (Paulo), grew up surrounded by art and worked closely with his father as an adult. He married Emilienne Lotte in 1950, and they had two children named Pablito and Marina.
- Paulo later married Christine Pauplin in 1962, and they had a son named Bernard Ruiz-Picasso.
- Her grandson, Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, became an important art historian and collector. He worked tirelessly with his mother to open the celebrated Picasso Museum in Malaga, honoring his family's deep creative roots.
- Her granddaughter, Marina Picasso, wrote books about her famous family and supported numerous children's charities around the globe.
Today, Olga Khokhlova Picasso is remembered as an accomplished dancer who brought grace to the stage. She served as a central figure in modern art history, inspiring some of the most famous portraits ever created.
