Leading Ladies
Five Things to Know About Rene Perle
1. Born in Romania to a Jewish family, Renée Perle left Central Europe for the glamor of 1920s Paris. There, she began her career as a model posing for artists.
2.Much Like the Mona Lisa was the muse for Leonardo da Vinci, Rene Perle was the muse to French artist, Jacques Henri Lartigue but unfortunately we know very little about her life after she and Jacques parted ways.
2. Renee also was a painter. A large number of her self-portraits are seen in some Lartigue photos. They have a strange fascination, perhaps because they show something approaching a manic-compulsion by Renee to paint her own face on canvas over and over, almost without end.
4. Many fashion designers and other photographers were inspired by Rene and Jacques and it’s easy to see why. Her look consisted of Marcel waves, cupid bow lips, dark-painted nails and she had impeccable fashion. Those wide leg pants are perfection as is the lifestyle of lounging on the Riviera.
5. A beauty icon to many, designers like John Galliano have called her a “Parisian kittenish coquette”. Although she modeled over eighty years ago, the stylish legacy of Renée Perle is unforgettable.
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