The Nameless Woman is the story of a ghost haunting a painting. In Paris, at the Musée d’Orsay, is exhibited a monumental work of Gustave Courbet painted in 1855: The Painter’s Studio: A real allegory. The artist is represented there, surrounded by his models. Among the art lovers, there is Charles Baudelaire. Over time, a figure appeared next to him. It is Jeanne Duval, a black woman whose real name is not known, the poet’s lover, who was erased from the painting by Courbet himself. Jeanne came back to the surface as if the pigments of the painting could not bear her erasure.

This film aims to rehabilitate the woman who inspired some of the most beautiful poems in the French language, the one who was so badly treated by the biographers of the poet, blinded by their racist prejudices.

A film by Régine Abadia
Produced by Sophie Parrault
With the voices of Mata Gabin (narrator French version) and Eric Ruf of the Comédie Française (Baudelaire)
Speakers: Emmanuel Richon, Linda Lô, Karfa Diallo
Graphics and animations by Ricardo Kump
Original score and sound design: Margarida Guia
Editing: Joseph Licidé

A co-production Little Big Story and Via Découvertes Films
With the participation of France Télévisions and TV5MONDE
With the support of PROCIREP, the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image animée, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and the Orsay and Orangery Museums
International sales: CLPB Rights
French broadcaster: France 5

 

© Little Big Story – Via Découvertes Films / 2021

Festivals

Le FIFA – International Festival of Films on Art (2022) – Official Selection (feature-length films)
Montreal International History Film Festival (FIFHM) – Best Medium-length Film (2022)
On Art – Poland (2022) – Official Selection
History Film Festival (2022) – Best TV Documentary