Meret Oppenheim

(Swiss, 1913–1985)

Meret Oppenheim was a German-born Swiss artist and photographer. Considered a key figure in the Surrealist movement, her work focused on the marginalization of women, but also the subversion of art itself. In what is considered her most famous work Object (Le Déjeuner en Fourrure) (1936), the artist covered a teacup, saucer, and spoon in a layer of Chinese gazelle fur, creating a contrast of domestic objects with the expensive furs worn by refined women. “There is no difference between man and woman: there is only artist or poet. Sex plays no role whatsoever. That is why I refuse to participate in exhibitions of woman only,” she once declared. Born on October 6, 1913, in Berlin, Germany Oppenheim moved to Paris at the age of 18 where she attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and fell into the circles of the Surrealists. She famously posed for one of  Man Ray’s most famous photographs Erotique Voilee (1933), in which Oppenheim posed nude covered in ink at a printing press. In 1936, she had her first solo exhibition in Basel, Switzerland and began her investigations into female exploitation. Oppenheim’s work set the tone for several later artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, and Ana Mendieta. She died on November 15, 1985, in Basel, Switzerland. Today, much of her archive is held at the the Museum of Fine Arts in Bern, and is also held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others.

Related Categories

Contemporary Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Gemstones, Sculpture, Surrealism

Related Artists

André Breton, Luis Buñuel, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti

Meret Oppenheim Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Meret Oppenheim (1,004 results)
Das Paar, 1956

Meret Oppenheim

Das Paar, 1956

Sale Date: October 28, 2005

Auction Closed

Caroline (portfolio of 23, incl. 2..., 1984–1985

Meret Oppenheim

Caroline (portfolio of 23, incl. 2..., 1984–1985

Sale Date: June 16, 2005

Auction Closed

Sansibar (portfolio of 15 w/colophon and..., 1981

Meret Oppenheim

Sansibar (portfolio of 15 w/colophon and..., 1981

Sale Date: June 16, 2005

Auction Closed

Bewegte Wolken vor Gestirn, 1965

Meret Oppenheim

Bewegte Wolken vor Gestirn, 1965

Sale Date: June 10, 2005

Auction Closed

Männliche Figur vor hohem Haus, 1978

Meret Oppenheim

Männliche Figur vor hohem Haus, 1978

Sale Date: June 28, 2005

Auction Closed

Lektüre, 1972

Meret Oppenheim

Lektüre, 1972

Sale Date: June 9, 2005

Auction Closed

Der Flaggenfalter (from Parapapillonneries), 1976

Meret Oppenheim

Der Flaggenfalter (from Parapapillonneries), 1976

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Mann nach links gehend, 1978

Meret Oppenheim

Mann nach links gehend, 1978

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Danae - Baumstrunk vor Waldhintergrund, 1958

Meret Oppenheim

Danae - Baumstrunk vor Waldhintergrund, 1958

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Japanischer Garten, 1976–1977

Meret Oppenheim

Japanischer Garten, 1976–1977

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Nachthimmel mit Achaten, 1971

Meret Oppenheim

Nachthimmel mit Achaten, 1971

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Die Ente, die non sagt, 1960

Meret Oppenheim

Die Ente, die non sagt, 1960

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Pelztasse (after Man Ray), 1971

Meret Oppenheim

Pelztasse (after Man Ray), 1971

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Röntgenaufnahme des Schädels M.O., 1964

Meret Oppenheim

Röntgenaufnahme des Schädels M.O., 1964

Sale Date: June 8, 2005

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1971

Meret Oppenheim

Untitled, 1971

Sale Date: June 20, 2005

Auction Closed

La vie decouvre un secret, 1971

Meret Oppenheim

La vie decouvre un secret, 1971

Sale Date: June 20, 2005

Auction Closed

Komposition mit Blumentapete und B, 1970

Meret Oppenheim

Komposition mit Blumentapete und B, 1970

Sale Date: June 7, 2005

Auction Closed

Mon drapeau, 1974

Meret Oppenheim

Mon drapeau, 1974

Sale Date: June 6, 2005

Auction Closed

Blume, 1973

Meret Oppenheim

Blume, 1973

Sale Date: May 13, 2005

Auction Closed

Oiseau prédiluvien, 1954

Meret Oppenheim

Oiseau prédiluvien, 1954

Sale Date: May 13, 2005

Auction Closed

Caché-trouvé

Meret Oppenheim

Caché-trouvé

Sale Date: May 12, 2005

Auction Closed

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

After Meret Oppenheim

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

Sale Date: April 27, 2005

Auction Closed

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

After Meret Oppenheim

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

Sale Date: April 27, 2005

Auction Closed

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

After Meret Oppenheim

Objet - Le déjeuner en Fourrure (after photo , 1971

Sale Date: April 27, 2005

Auction Closed

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