Colette (28 January 1873 – 3 August 1954)

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954) aged 5, 1878

Colette (1873-1954) aged 15, 1888

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”  - Colette

Colette, c. 1890

Polaire (1879-1939) and Colette (1874-1954) 1901

© Bridgeman Art Library

 Colette, rue de Courcelle, Paris

 Colette and Willy (1859-1931) from 'Revue Illustree', 15th July 1902

© Bridgeman Art Library

  Charles Gerschel, Postcard depicting Colette and her husband Willy

© Bridgeman Art Library

 Colette and Toby 

 Colette aux seins nus 1906

 Colette in 'Le Petit Faun', 1906

 Reutlinger Studio, Colette acting in 'Reve d'Egyptienne', 1907

 © Bridgeman Art Library

 Colette posing on a lion's skin, draped in a panther's skin, 1909

 Henri Manuel, Colette c. 1906-1909

 Colette, c. 1906-1909 

 Colette and her cats, c. 1925.

André Kertész, Colette, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Bourgogne, 1930.

 Colette, femme de lettres française.

Encyclopédie Larousse

Germaine Krull, Colette, 1930

"Kevés óra adatik életünkben, mikor a test elégedett, a szem gyönyörködik, a szív könnyű és szinte kongóan üres, és egy pillanat alatt csordultig telik, ezt az órát sohasem fogom elfelejteni".

Colette: Zendülő vetés, ford. Brodszky Erzsébet

In: Kóborélet és más kisregények, Európa, 1982

There are only a few hours in life when a contented body, with its eyes rewarded for their efforts, and a heart - light, resonating, almost empty - receive in one moment all that they are capable of containing, and I will remember this. 

Colette: Green Wheat, trans. Zack Rogow

André Kertész, Colette, 1930 / © RMN

André Kertész, Colette, 1930 / © RMN

"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet." - Colette

 Colette dans son appartement du Palais-Royal, à Paris.

© Ph. P. Vals - Coll. Archives Larbor

 Madame Colette dans son institut de beauté, Paris, 1932

 Agence Meurisse / RMN

© Pierre Jahan, Colette à la fenêtre de son appartement au Palais Royal. Paris 1941 

© Paul Almásy, Colette dans son appartement au Palais Royal, Paris, 1947-1948

I believe there are more urgent and honorable occupations than the incomparable waste of time we call suffering.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sidonie_gabrielle_colette.html#7w4vES48CP3huyrq.99

I believe there are more urgent and honorable occupations than the incomparable waste of time we call suffering.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sidonie_gabrielle_colette.html#7w4vES48CP3huyrq.99

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette and Jean Cocteau, c. 1950

 Irving Penn, Colette, Paris, 1951, printed December 1976

Colette and Maurice Goudeket

 Colette with Audrey Hepburn who played the role of Gigi on Broadway, 1951

 "I believe there are more urgent and honorable occupations than the incomparable waste of time we call suffering."

© Walter Carone, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette's 80th birthday, 1953

© Gisèle Freund, Colette, Monte-Carlo, 1954

© Madame D'Ora (Dora Kallmus), The Writer Colette, c. 1953.

"Egyszóval élni tanultam. Tehát meg lehetett tanulni élni? Igen, feltéve, hogy boldogtalanok vagyunk. A boldogság nem tanít semmire. Boldogtalanul élni, én nem belepusztulni, ez már valódi elfoglaltság, kész mesterség."

Colette, Búcsú az érzelmektől, 1907

I was, in fact, learning to live. Can you learn to live? Yes, if you are not happy. There is no virtue in felicity. To endure without happiness and not to droop, not to pine, is a pursuit in itself, you might almost say a profession.


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