Meret Oppenheim Retrospective “an enormously tiny bit of a lot”

Much more than “just” the fur cup: this lavishly illustrated monograph presents the multifaceted work and colorful life of the great artist and Surrealist muse, Meret Oppenheim (1913-1985). Once enmeshed in scandal, known as a mysterious model and a mythical personality, she emerged among the most far-sighted artists of her epoch. Her oeuvre, which includes painting, sculpture, photography, poetry, drawings and design objects, constitutes an important contribution to twentieth-century art. Alongside the legendary Breakfast in Fur, from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, and important pieces from Vienna, Paris and Stockholm, Retrospective: An Enormously Tiny Bit of a Lot includes many never-before seen works from private collections. While Oppenheim’s works forbid formal classification, major themes can be distinguished: borders and connections between nature and culture; man and woman; day and night; and, as befits a Surrealist, dream and reality. Here, art historical writing and detailed analyses shed light on gender-specific issues in Oppenheim’s work, along with broader concerns and major artistic advances. In addition, previously unpublished fragments of Oppenheim’s own writing recollect many of her companions and artistic colleagues, and an illustrated biography completes the picture.