They travelled to Italy together, and on one occasion
visited the Naples aquarium. Kokoschka watched an insect sting and paralyse a fish,
before devouring it, and at once associated the scene with the woman by his side.

follow thread:

obsession

Oskar Kokoschka Alma Mahler It was
to be made to look exactly like Alma Mahler.On July 22
he already returned a model of the head,
having checked it and made suggestions as to how the
work should proceed. "If you are able to carry out this
task as I would wish, to deceive me with such magic
that when I see it and touch it imagine that I have the
woman of my dreams in front of me, then dear Fräulein
Moos, I will be eternally indebted to your skills of invention
and your womanly sensitivity as you may already
have deduced from the discussion we had."

The ensuing disappointment was huge.

years
and quote
"It had managed to cure me completely of my Passion. So I gave a big champagne Party with chamber music, during which my maid Hulda exhibited the doll in all its beautiful clothes for the last time. When dawn broke - I was quite drunk, as was everyone else - I beheaded it out in the garden and broke a bottle-of red wine over its head.”

oscar with hat

devotion 1918

§almasmall