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‘The Woman With Fifty Faces' Review: Painted Like a French Girl

‘The Woman With Fifty Faces' Review: Painted Like a French Girl

The French author and artist Jean Cocteau was enthralled by a mysterious woman named Maria Lani, but his attempts to capture her likeness during a 1928 sitting were agonizing. 'Every time you take your eyes off her she changes,' he wrote. 'How do you expect me to draw her?'
Cocteau was far from the only one to try. 'The Woman With Fifty Faces,' a graphic novel by Jonathan Lackman and Zachary J. Pinson, is based on the riveting true story of Lani, who, with her husband, Max Ilyin, persuaded some 50 artists in Parisian society to paint, draw or sculpt her. The remarkable roster included Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse and Chaim Soutine. Only Pablo Picasso, it seems, turned them down.
The couple claimed that Lani was a silent-film actress from Berlin and that the artwork would be featured in a Hollywood film. But there was no such film, and Lani was not, in fact, a movie star. She was born Maria Geleniewicz in 1895 in Poland, where her Jewish family escaped violent pogroms. At age 24 she met Ilyin and the two hatched a plan to reinvent themselves in France. They succeeded wildly: Lani achieved fame as an artists' muse, and by the end of 1930 she and Ilyin had mounted exhibitions, in Europe and the United States, of the various portraits of her.
Afterward, Lani and Ilyin disappeared from high society. In the run-up to World War II, they helped Jewish refugees in Paris obtain immigration papers before fleeing the Nazis themselves. The pair settled in America, where they nearly willed their fake movie into spectacular existence—Greta Garbo was to play the lead—before the project collapsed due to lack of financing.
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Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg
Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg

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Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg

When the most insightful Formula 1 reporter in Spa is a former racing driver, it says a lot about the current state of an entire profession – or rather, how dire things have become in terms of critical journalism. Especially in a paddock increasingly flooded by a phenomenon called 'influencer'. And let's be honest – if something sounds like a disease, it could certainly act like one. Still, it's merely a symptom of a broader zeitgeist that, in 2025, doesn't stop at the gates of the F1 paddock. People who are enthusiastic about everything – as long as they're allowed inside – are far easier to manage. They're more compliant when PR handlers want to dictate not just headlines but entire stories. They don't push back when teams deny access to press briefings or even resort to legal action against unwelcome reporting. And yet, there seems to remain one small, defiant village in this largely occupied F1 empire – a flicker of hope. Fittingly, the figure who embodies that resistance sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Cacofonix, the long-haired bard from Asterix, who routinely gets gagged so no one has to listen to him. A sentiment that many of the once-proud voices of critical F1 journalism can relate to. It's telling that, in their place, it's now Nico Rosberg – in his role as TV pundit – who dares to ask the uncomfortable questions. It helps, of course, that Rosberg quite simply doesn't give a damn – which may be why more than one paddock personality in Spa probably wished they had a gag to hand. Exhibit A: Jos Verstappen. On the starting grid with Sky Sports F1 on his UK broadcasting duties, Rosberg confronts him directly over his past criticism of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner: 'Last year, you said Horner had to go because he was destroying the team,' Rosberg begins. Lando Norris, McLaren, 3rd position, is interviewed by Nico Rosberg, Sky Sports F1, after the Sprint race Verstappen shrugs, interrupting him: 'That was a year and a half ago. So, it's different,' he says, adding, 'I've got nothing to say. It's fine.' Rosberg presses on: 'Now you're quiet?' Verstappen leans forward, confused. Rosberg repeats: 'You're quiet now?' 'I'm always quiet,' Verstappen snaps back – clearly irritated. The awkward exchange is just the opening act. Rosberg continues firing off uncomfortable questions left and right. His next target: his own Mercedes successor, Valtteri Bottas. 'New deal with Cadillac?' he asks bluntly. Bottas plays deaf: 'I can't hear you.' Rosberg insists: 'So just rumours, yeah?' Bottas, again evasive: 'There are a lot of rumours in this sport.' Even current drivers like Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli don't escape unscathed. More and more, Rosberg has become the kind of pundit he himself – back in his racing days – would probably have hated: brutally honest, relentlessly persistent, unafraid of confrontation. He puts his finger on every wound with the precision of someone who knows exactly what he's talking about – because he's been there. Norris, who had another error-strewn afternoon, becomes the subject of Rosberg's post-race critique: 'He was half asleep when the race restarted,' Rosberg says, dissecting the Brit's performance. 'And later on, he made three more mistakes – the kind of errors a Hamilton or Verstappen simply wouldn't make.' All this while McLaren boss Zak Brown is standing right next to him. Rosberg, undeterred, turns to him cheekily: 'You saw that too, didn't you?' Read Also: Who slept worst last night: Toto Wolff Rosberg doesn't hold back with his former team Mercedes either – nor with rookie Antonelli, even though the young Italian once drove for Rosberg's own karting team and received financial support from him. Rosberg's verdict is blunt: Antonelli has 'definitely allowed himself a few too many distractions this year.' His evidence? In Imola, for instance, the teenager welcomed a visit from the local football club – and even some of his schoolmates. 'You have to cut all of that out – completely. Zero. Take it all down to zero,' Rosberg demands. 'It's just you and your team. Go race. That's it.' And Rosberg speaks from experience: in 2016, that same monk-like detachment and ruthless focus on the essentials gave him the final push he needed to clinch the world title. Nico Rosberg, Sky F1, on the grid 'No friends, no family – leave them all at home. Leave behind anything that distracts you. Prepare with the team, get in the simulator, double your sim time at the factory. Just preparation, preparation, preparation. That's the best thing he can do,' Rosberg insists. Whether this kind of stern, old-school advice – and the sharp tone he often takes – wins him many friends is doubtful. But frankly, Rosberg doesn't seem to care. A perfect example? His former team boss, Toto Wolff. Even when it comes to the Austrian and his ongoing contract talks with George Russell, Rosberg can't resist letting us in on a little secret. 'It's horrible negotiating with Toto – because his tactic is to just disappear,' laughs the former Mercedes driver. 'So if you're George now trying to get hold of him, Toto's already gone. He even knows how to avoid the blue ticks.' Apparently, no special WhatsApp settings required for the Silver Arrows' team boss. With a grin, Rosberg adds: 'As soon as your message pops up on his screen, he'll only read the first few words and won't even open it properly. I remember that well from my time – it was always his style: vanish, don't reply, be unreachable. And that's horrible, because it gives you no chance.' Rosberg certainly knows how to offer compelling insights from behind the curtain – into the inner workings of an F1 team. What helps, of course, is that he's still deeply connected in the paddock and that his own driving days weren't all that long ago. He raced against many of today's stars – and clearly still knows exactly how the game is played. But perhaps even more important than Rosberg's technical expertise is his integrity – his clarity of opinion, his directness, and his ability to speak his mind without, unlike some of his fellow pundits, constantly putting himself in the spotlight. Martin Brundle, Nico Rosberg and Simon Lazenby His deliberate refusal to play along with the increasingly sanitised rules of F1's tightly-managed media circus is refreshing. Rosberg is finally asking the uncomfortable questions. That said, it's only fair to acknowledge that Rosberg's status as a world champion certainly helps. It elevates him beyond doubt, giving his voice an authority in almost any discussion. There was, however, one moment in recent years when Rosberg himself clashed with F1's many unwritten rules – quite literally finding himself excluded: during the COVID years, when strict F1 protocols suddenly barred the former world champion from the paddock. He was forced to dial in remotely, standing outside the gates with a small TV crew like an outcast on the fringes of the great circus. Sky stuck with their most valued expert – and rightly so. Rosberg's multilingualism allows him to switch effortlessly between international broadcasts, making him even more valuable to the network. Still, Rosberg's rise in the world of television hasn't come without its cost. This writer experienced this firsthand at last year's season finale in Abu Dhabi. After an enjoyable private chat with him and Augusto Farfus – whom I know well from DTM – I asked Nico if I could record a few quotes from him. He politely but firmly declined: 'I don't do print anymore.' The message was clear: he was done with the written press. It was a surprising development, but in hindsight, so be it. If journalism truly is in decline in this age of TikTok, AI, and clickbait – then so be it. Long live Rosberg on TV. As long as he keeps delivering like he did on Sunday in Spa, we will all be better for it. Photos from Belgian GP - Race Jacky Ickx, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Rain in the pitlane Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Eliska Babickova, girlfriend of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Kym Illman / Getty Images Jenson Button Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Ryan Pierse / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images A fan wears a headband made of LEGO F1 cars Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Kym Illman / Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Jonas Roosens / Belga Mag / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Peter Fox / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Peter Fox / Getty Images View of the fanzone Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Jayce Illman / Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Peter Fox / Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Lando Norris, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Peter Fox / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Mark Thompson - Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images To read more articles visit our website.

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP N.V. ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CYRILLE BOLLORÉ FROM ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP N.V. ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CYRILLE BOLLORÉ FROM ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP N.V. ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CYRILLE BOLLORÉ FROM ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HILVERSUM, Netherlands, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group N.V. (EURONEXT: UMG) announced that Non-Executive Director Cyrille Bolloré notified the company of his resignation from its Board of Directors with immediate effect to focus his time and energy on the Bolloré Group. Mr. Bolloré remains strongly supportive of UMG's management team and strategy. The UMG Board is very grateful for Mr. Bolloré's contributions to the Company. About Universal Music GroupAt Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation, and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information, visit Cautionary NoticeThis press release is published by Universal Music Group N.V. and contains inside information within the meaning of article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation). View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Universal Music Group N.V. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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