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Ma gouvernante - My Nurse - Mein Kindermädchen
Ma gouvernante - My Nurse - Mein Kindermädchen
Ma gouvernante - My Nurse - Mein Kindermädchen
Photo: Prallan Allsten/Moderna Museet

Ma gouvernante - My Nurse - Mein Kindermädchen

Artist (Schweiz, 1913 - 1985)
Alternate Title
  • Min guvernant
Date1936/1967
MediumMetal plate, shoes, string, paper
Dimensions14 x 33 x 21 cm
ClassificationSculptures
Credit LinePurchase 1967 with contribution from The Friends of Moderna Museet
Countries
On view
Stockholm
Object NumberNMSK 1972
About the artworkA pair of trussed white pumps are served on a silver plate. The heels are adorned with white paper ruffles of the kind formerly used for chicken or lamb chops at fancy dinners. In surrealist works such as this, objects that don’t “belong together” are often combined, like in dreams. The surrealists were interested in dreams, sexuality and urges, influenced by Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, which was new at the time. Shoes can also be seen as a fetish, an ordinary object that is charged with sexual meaning. Several of Meret Oppenheim’s works concern the construction of “femininity”. In that perspective, the string around the shoes can be read as a symbol of how roles are forced upon women.
Description Replik utförd 1967 Selected exhibition history Meret Oppenheim (1967) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall (2003) Malmö Konsthall Surrealism, samlingen (den 19 oktober 2024 - den 18 januari 2026) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2019-2022 (den 1 februari 2019 - den 27 augusti 2023) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Meret Oppenheim 2004 (2004) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Bildmuseet - Dada och surrealism (2003) Bildmuseet, Umeå Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Surrealism? (1970) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Givet av MMV (1972) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Meret Oppenheim: Moderna Museet [4.9-31.10] 2004Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall : [Malmö Konsthall : 8 februari - 4 maj 2003]Mästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]Surrealism? : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 6 mars - 12 april 1970]Givet av Moderna Museets vänner : [Moderna Museet : 22.1 - 13.2 1972]Meret Oppenheim : [Moderna Museet : 15 april - 21 maj 1967]