Vase with Tulips, 1927. Private Collection. Artist : Valadon, Suzanne (1865-1938)

Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) was a French painter and artist's model who played a prominent role in the Montmartre art scene of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was born Marie-Clementine Valadon in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, France, and grew up in poverty in Montmartre, Paris.

Valadon began her career as an artist's model, posing for notable painters such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. However, she soon began to create her own art, and her paintings were exhibited in prestigious salons such as the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants.

Valadon's style was characterized by bold colors and dynamic brushwork, and she often depicted women in unconventional poses and settings. Her work was influential in the development of modern art, particularly in the realm of figurative painting.

Valadon's personal life was also unconventional for her time. She was married three times and had several affairs, including one with the composer Erik Satie. She also raised her son Maurice Utrillo, who became a successful artist in his own right.

Despite facing discrimination as a female artist, Valadon's work continued to gain recognition throughout her life, and she was the first woman artist to be admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Today, her paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world.