Despite the popularity and success the French model and painter Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) enjoyed in her lifetime, her work has received scant attention since her death. While her art broke new ground, her reception was often overshadowed by criticism of her personal life, and her fame as an artist was eclipsed by that of her son, Maurice Utrillo. With her art and lifestyle alike, Valadon cared little for convention and challenged behavioral codes.

Seen in the twenty-first century, Valadon's confrontational works still challenge viewers with their unapologetic presentations of women's bodies, female desire, and the conflicts of marriage and motherhood. This fully illustrated exhibition catalogue explores new ways of looking at Valadon's life and pioneering work. Contributions by Nancy Ireson, Martha Lucy, Denise Murrell, Adrienne L. Childs, Lauren Jimerson, and Ebonie Pollock tackle the artist's treatment of the female figure, her navigation of the art world, and her depictions of an as-yet-unidentified Black model. South African artist Lisa Brice reflects on her interest in the painter, finding resonance between Valadon's pioneering work and contemporary artists and events. A chronology by Marianne Le Morvan presents a fascinating overview of the artist's turbulent life.