Brains and beauty
My latest painting, Toto (2019) depicts Dutch-Javanese model turned spy, Catharina “Toto” Koopman.
While she was beautiful, she was also very talented. She was fluent in at least five languages and briefly worked as a model in Paris for Coco Chanel. Toto had a foray into the film industry. While it did not result in fame, it allowed her to make the acquaintance of Lord Beaverbrook.
Despite a substantial difference in age, they became lovers. Eventually, she also had an affair with his much younger son. Toto agreed not to marry him in exchange for a life-long pension. Thus, it was Beaverbrook’s wealth that helped fund her world travels.
Unusually expressive
Toto could have continued her career as a model. Instead, she chose to risk her life to help others.
I painted Lee (2017) for similar reasons. In her case, she left her modelling job at Vogue to become the first female war photojournalist.
As for Toto, she spied for the Italian resistance during the Second World War. After being caught twice previously, on her third arrest she was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp.
After being liberated, she fell in love with art dealer, Erica Brausen. Their love affair was enduring. As a result, they remained a couple for almost 50 years, until their deaths.
I wanted to paint Toto (2019) because I found her face unusually expressive. She was well known in her time and lived a highly unconventional lifestyle. For this reason, I tried to reflect her originality on the canvas. In addition to her unique face, I wanted my painting to capture her general air of defiance.
Toto (2019) pays tribute to a fascinating and forgotten woman, who achieved so much in her lifetime. The result is a painting that allows her come to life for a new generation to appreciate.