Suzanne Valadon: An Uncompromising Artist is the English title of a French documentary film which premiered in 2024. In 2025, it was shown on French and German television (arte).
The topic of this film is the life and work of the famous female French artist Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938).
Here is some basic information about this film:
** French title: Suzanne Valadon: peintre sans concession
** Director: Flore Mongin
** Narrator: Karin Viard
** Languages spoken: French and English
** Subtitles: English
** Run time: 52 minutes
Three historical experts are interviewed in this film
Here are the names of the participants
Listed in alphabetical order
** Nancy Ireson – conservator, the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, USA
** Nathalie Ernault – Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris
** Chiara Parisi – Director, Centre Pompidou-Metz
Archive footage is used between the talking heads.
Archive footage is used to supplement and support the statements made by the talking heads.
Archive footage is used when the narrator is speaking.
When relevant archive footage is not available, the story is illustrated by drawings which sometimes turn into a brief animated cartoon.
This film covers the life and work of Suzanne Valadon in great detail: from the beginning 1865 to the end in 1938.
As a young teenager, she made money posing as a model for several artists.
After a while, she decided that she wanted to be an artist herself. She worked hard to build a career as an artist.
While she was recognized as a talented artist, she did not sell many paintings. It was difficult for her to make a living as an artist.
But later, she became a famous artist whose products were in high demand. She was able to build a career as a successful artist.
She had several romantic relationships.
She was married two times:
** Her first husband was Paul Mousis (1863-1932)
They were married 1896-1910
** Her second husband was André Utter (1886-1948)
They were married 1914-1934
Her son Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955) followed in his mother’s footsteps. He became a painter. After a while, he became a successful painter. He even managed to make more money than her mother!
What do reviewers say about this film?
On IMDb it has a rating of 72 percent. This rating is quite good. But in my opinion, it is not good enough.
I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).
REFERENCES
# 1. Items available online
Marilyn Brouwer
“Suzanne Valadon: Artist, Mistress, Model and Muse of Montmartre,”
Bonjour Paris
17 May 2017
Louise Darblay
“Muse or revolutionary painter: Who was Suzanne Valadon?”
Art Basel
14 January 2025
# 2. Books
Suzanne Valadon: 1865-1938
By Daniel Marchesseau
(1996)
This book is a catalogue for an exhibition which was held at the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny, Switzerland, in 1996. The author was the curator of the exhibition. The text is in English and French.
Suzanne Valadon:
The Mistress of Montmartre
By June Rose
(1999)
Suzanne Valadon:
Of Love and Art
By Elaine Todd Koren
(2001)
Renoir’s Dancer:
The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon
By Catherine Hewitt
(2017 = hardcover)
(2018 = paperback)
Suzanne Valadon:
Model, Painter, Rebel
By Nancy Ireson
(2021)
The Valadon Drama:
The Life of Suzanne Valadon
By John Storm
(2022)
Suzanne Valadon:
Sans Concession
By Flore Mongin
(2025)
# 3. Film and video
Lost Women Art
This documentary film premiered in 2021. In 2025, it was shown on German television (ARD). It is a miniseries with two episodes:
Episode 1
Vom Impressionismus bis zur Abstraktion
Run time = 51 minutes
Episode 2
Vom neuen Sehen bis zur feministischen Avantgarde
Run time = 52 minutes
Vergessene Malerinnen
von Renaissance bis Klassizismus
This documentary film premiered in 2024
Run time = 95 minutes
*****
The French artist
Suzanne Valadon and
her son Maurice Utrillo
*****
Marie Coca and her daughter Gilberte
By Suzanne Valadon
(1913)
*****
A family portrait:
Suzanne Valadon is standing
behind her son Maurice who is sitting
On the right: her old mother Madeleine
On the left: her son's friend André Utter
By Suzanne Vadalon (1912)
*****
