No. 18The 1900s
Post-ImpressionismSuzanne Valadon
1865 – 1938 · France
From circus acrobat to model to the painter everyone posed for.
All artistsPost-Impressionism
Post-ImpressionismThe Seamstress, 1914. Suzanne Valadon. Photo: Didier Descouens. Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Painting · Drawing
Suzanne Valadon
1865 – 1938 · France
She grew up poor in Montmartre, worked as a circus acrobat, then modelled for Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec — watching, learning, and finally painting with strong outlines and bold colour.
Know more on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Fact file
- Born
- 1865
- Died
- 1938
- Country
- France
- Era
- The 1900s
- Style
- Post-Impressionism
- Disciplines
- Painting, Drawing
- Key work
- The Seamstress (1914)
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Where to see it
- Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Curiosity!
It is believedHer circus career ended after a fall from a trapeze — that's how she began modelling.
What we know (and what we don’t)
- Documented
In 1894 she was the first woman admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.
- Documented
Her son was the painter Maurice Utrillo.
Where to see her
On view right now
No temporary show we know of right now. Try the live search below.
Museums that own her work
Owning isn’t always showing: works rotate, go into storage or travel on loan — check before you go.
Hunting for a show we missed?
Exhibition list last checked 25 Oct 2026.