A veritable global muse of the Belle Epoque, everyone wanted to see, approach or even touch this “sacred monster”, against whom no stage – classic theaters or 5,000-seat circus tents – could resist.
As talented as she was gifted with the fiery temperament of her “devil’s hair”, Sarah Bernhardt was as famous in France as she was on five continents.
This extraordinary reputation foreshadowed that of the global superstars who would follow her in the footsteps of Josephine Baker and, closer to home, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
The exhibition at the Petit Palais, in honor of the centenary of his death, closes this August 27. It’s an opportunity to get up close to 400 works and objects that belonged to this polymath artist, who was also an actress, painter, writer and sculptor.
A play of fate
Sarah Bernardt’s life is very much like Cinderella’s, or From Rags to Riches as the Americans call it: born into a miserable home, only to die in a blaze of glory.
Nothing predestined this courtesan’s daughter – who worked in a brothel – to take to the stage and become the “Divine” Sarah.
But fate had a hand in it, and her only experience of tragedy was on stage.
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Featured photo : © Press
