The discovery of the body of a young woman in the Seine was in itself unremarkable, and yet her identity and the circumstances surrounding her death haunted the popular imagination for nearly a century. Moved by her beauty and serenity, an attendant at the city morgue had taken a death mask from her face and later mass-produced, it became a curio to be seen in houses across France. A number of writers fabricated fictions around her life and Man Ray even attempted a photographic resurrection but to no avail, the puzzle remained intractable.
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Serene
She has such a serene expression on her face. Makes one wonder about her death.
posted by Spooky @ 09.20.2010 05:24
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Join Date: 12.12.2004 Comments: 20
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L'inconnue de la seine
I own a replica (the real size). She was so beautiful that her death mask was used by esthetic schools for apprentice use, (facial massage learning). I remember my teacher, she explained it was a suicide. We called her "Cathie" at school in Paris.
Actually that death mask is hanged on a wall in my bathroom since 25 years.
That death mask was sold to apprentices under the name of "masque d'étude de Simonne Laubé".
Sorry I don't speak english very well.
posted by Crapounette @ 02.18.2009 21:58
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Join Date: 02.18.2009 Comments: 7
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terracota reproduction
I have had a small terracota reproduction of this death mask for years and always wondered who she really was. Thanks for posting her info.
posted by shiwanqui @ 10.08.2007 10:14
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Join Date: 10.08.2007 Comments: 1
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Odd
Odd that this mask is so perfect considering that she was found in the river? She must have not been in the water for more than an hour or so because she doesn't look bloated or swollen which is what happens when bodies are in the water for very long.
posted by Sharfire1955 @ 09.18.2007 20:59
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Join Date: 09.19.2006 Comments: 118
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L'Inconnue de la Seine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconnue_de_la_Seine has some more information on this famous death mask. It has been said that the face served as the model for the mannequins that they use in first aid training- "Rescue Annie". And as such this may be the most kissed face of all time!
posted by Elwing @ 06.19.2007 20:53
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Join Date: 06.19.2007 Comments: 53
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wow
So pretty.
posted by peridot_princess @ 05.29.2007 06:57
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Join Date: 04.30.2007 Comments: 50
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Thank you for the info
it made for interesting reading.
posted by purplepansy31 @ 05.27.2007 00:07
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Join Date: 05.20.2007 Comments: 70
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Wow!
In death or ordinary bust-this is a beautiful young woman that takes my breath away!
posted by bitsy @ 04.21.2007 23:14
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Join Date: 02.19.2006 Comments: 268
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Stunning
Just beautiful
posted by Xerces @ 03.28.2007 18:40
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Join Date: 02.19.2007 Comments: 73
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Lovely
Beautiful woman. The expression on her face is so serene.
posted by Sue Doe Nimm @ 01.20.2007 09:02
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Join Date: 01.15.2007 Comments: 62
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not so sure
Not so sure this is a death mask
posted by brask @ 01.06.2007 01:34
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Join Date: 11.03.2006 Comments: 51
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NICE
It's so perfect no flaws. A very well done piece.
posted by purple crow @ 12.17.2006 20:04
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Join Date: 12.16.2006 Comments: 71
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Unbelieveable
So stunning, hard to believe someone this vibrant died so young. I would also like to have a reproduction of this one.
posted by Kains_nana @ 12.06.2006 18:01
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Join Date: 08.11.2006 Comments: 64
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So beautifully rendered
it looks like a statue.
posted by sammyjo003 @ 10.09.2006 23:13
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Join Date: 09.23.2006 Comments: 51
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At peace
She looks so serene as though death brought her happiness.
posted by halmoni13 @ 10.05.2006 20:41
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Join Date: 10.05.2006 Comments: 26
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interesting...
are female death masks hard to find or maybe the female species is not important enough to record in stone?
posted by odette @ 09.29.2006 13:21
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Join Date: 09.21.2006 Comments: 25
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Also...
if she looks familiar and you've ever taken a class in mouth to mouth resuscitation, it's because the man who created the dolls you practice on used this death mask as a model. I believe it's name is Resusci-Anne.
posted by NikkiBlinko @ 09.19.2006 17:59
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Join Date: 06.11.2005 Comments: 111
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ver unusual
This seems like a mask produced from someone still living at the time, it is completely different to all the other ones on this site. It has a life and vitality about it that the others lack. I shall certainly follow the link and read more. Thanks.
posted by Bree @ 09.07.2006 14:54
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Join Date: 01.07.2005 Comments: 106
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wow
She was simply stunning
posted by rebel_d0ll @ 09.06.2006 05:03
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Join Date: 09.06.2006 Comments: 33
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smile
did she die w/ a smile on her face?
posted by blythe in ar @ 08.28.2006 02:37
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Join Date: 05.20.2006 Comments: 82
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Beautiful
A very sweet innocent face
posted by cid77 @ 08.24.2006 20:36
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Join Date: 02.05.2005 Comments: 48
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Hm
She seems perfect not even a flaw a true beauty
posted by la_mort_noir @ 08.09.2006 05:25
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Join Date: 06.05.2006 Comments: 40
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She was
hungarian music hall artist Ewa Lazlo. The story behind how they found out her identity is fascinating. Go here for a great early forensic tale and to see an old carte-de-visite of hers.
Beauty
If that's real, what a beauty. I'd love to have a mass-produced replica of that one... but she looks too perfect, too beautiful, to have been real. Wow...
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