The Models of the Grande Chaumière
We receive many applications from models who want to pose for our artists at the Grande Chaumière. But being a live model isn't easy.
Here is the definition of a "life model": it is a person who poses for an artist. It is also a subject taught in art schools, in which the subject is a nude model.
This profession emerged in France in the 17th century, with the establishment of academies such as the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. It truly took off in the 19th century, when it became a recognized profession and models came to form a distinct social class.
Until the 20th century, it was mainly men who posed, but then women began to take up the profession, such as "Kiki de Montparnasse," a model who posed notably for Soutine.
"Kiki de Montparnasse" and Foujita
Long viewed by society as a profession practiced by people of loose morals, it is now a recognized profession—and, above all, a difficult one to carry out.
The main challenge of this profession lies in the posing sessions, which can last anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 hours... You therefore need to know how to pose, how to remain still for these long periods of time, and thus adopt appropriate poses: ones that are interesting for the artist and comfortable for the model. The model must also convey strong emotions that the artist can understand. Ultimately, you aren’t born a model—you become one. It’s a whole learning process.
Front page of the article published in Le Parisien
This article in *Le Parisien* explores the profession of life model—its challenges, its unique aspects, and the diverse range of people who work in this field—using our two models, Edem and Ingrid, as examples.
