Photo : De gauche à droite : Bella Ariel ©Boris Lipnitzki-Galerie Roger-Viollet / ©Juliette Lasserre / Coll. privée © DR
Bella Ariel and Sonia Mossé: Two Parisian Icons During the Occupation
Discover the hidden history of two Parisian icons whose creative brilliance briefly masked the dark reality of the occupation. This intimate talk unravels the complexities of art, fashion, and resistance in a city under siege. Join us for a powerful look at the lives and tragic fates of two women who dared to exist in defiance of hatred.
Mémorial de la Shoah (Paris 4th)
About
Join the Mémorial de la Shoah on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00, for a historical exploration of the lives of Bella Ariel and Sonia Mossé. These two Parisian icons, prominent in fashion and the avant-garde, faced tragic ends due to antisemitism during the Occupation. This session, featuring art historians, examines the intersection of systemic hatred and the artistic world of the 1940s. The event is free to attend, requires advance booking, and is fully wheelchair accessible. Please note that this discussion is intended for an audience aged 18 and older.
A star model for the Jeanne Lanvin fashion house, Bella Ariel participated in the Day of Elegance in Paris on June 5, 1942. No one knew that this young woman from Constantinople was Jewish. At the very moment her photo was circulating in the pages of newspapers as a national emblem of elegance, the worst racist caricatures were appearing in those same periodicals.
A regular at the Flore terrace, close to Nusch and Paul Éluard, Antonin Artaud, and Man Ray, Sonia Mossé was a stellar figure of the Parisian avant-garde, a multifaceted artist. At the beginning of the war, working anonymously as a stylist for several major fashion houses, she earned a very good living and frequented high-profile public places, refusing to comply with the anti-Jewish laws of Vichy. In 1943, both Bella and Sonia would be victims of denunciation, then arrested and deported.
Neither Bella nor Sonia returned. The account of their lives under the Occupation sheds light not only on the ambiguity of the worlds of fashion and art during this period, but also on the entanglement of misogyny and antisemitism in the circumstances of their arrests.
In the presence of the author and Laurence Meiffret, art historian.
In conversation with Emmanuelle Polack, art historian and author of Le Marché de l’art sous l’Occupation 1940‑1944 (Tallandier, 2019).
With the support of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah.
Our take on this event
Discover the hidden history of two remarkable women during a special presentation at the Mémorial de la Shoah on December 13, 2026. From 14:00 to 16:00, the event focuses on Bella Ariel, a Lanvin model, and Sonia Mossé, a multifaceted artist of the Parisian avant-garde. Their stories reveal the complexities and dangers faced by creative individuals during the Occupation, highlighting how both fell victim to denunciation and deportation.
The afternoon features a conversation with art historians Laurence Meiffret and Emmanuelle Polack, the latter known for her research on the art market under the Occupation, along with the book's author. Together, they will dissect how misogyny and antisemitism intertwined, leading to the arrest of these two prominent figures. The event is supported by the Fondation pour la mémoire de la Shoah.
Designed for adults aged 18 and over, this session offers a profound look at the fragility of life for artists in Paris during the 1940s. Admission is free of charge, though you must reserve your place in advance. The Mémorial, located in the 4th arrondissement, is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
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