An illuminating examination of a groundbreaking painter whose life was as fascinating as her art. Few accomplished artists embody the content of their work to the same extent as Tamara de Lempicka. This glamorous Polish-born artist was at the forefront of Paris' Art Deco movement, painting haunting, coolly colored portraits of the rich and famous cafe society. Lempicka's life and work are the subject of this exquisite volume that features nearly one hundred illustrations, including seventy color reproductions. Lempicka's highly stylized paintings, which combine elements of Cubism and Realism, capture the sophisticated world in which she moved. The accompanying essays reveal how Lempicka's portraits helped articulate a new image of women.