Marie Bashkirtseff (Maria Konstantinovna Bashkirtseva) was a Ukrainian-born artist, diarist, and sculptor who lived from 1858 to 1884. She was born on November 11, 1858, in Gavrontsi, a village in present-day Ukraine, and she passed away at the young age of 25 on October 31, 1884, in Paris, France. Marie Bashkirtseff is remembered for her talent as an artist and for her extensive and candid diaries.

Bashkirtseff showed artistic promise from an early age, and at the age of 16, she moved to Paris to pursue her passion for art. She studied at the Académie Julian, where she developed her skills as a painter. She gained recognition for her talent and determination, becoming one of the few female students accepted into the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Bashkirtseff is perhaps best known for her diaries, which she began writing at a young age. Her diaries provide a remarkable and intimate look into her thoughts, feelings, and observations about art, society, and her personal life.

The diary, published posthumously, is titled “Journal de Marie Bashkirtseff” (The Journal of Marie Bashkirtseff) and offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by a young woman aspiring to be an artist in the late 19th century.

Marie Bashkirtseff’s artistic career was tragically cut short when she succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 25. Despite her short life, her diaries and some of her artworks left a lasting impact. Her honesty and determination in the face of societal expectations for women in the arts have made her a symbol of female empowerment in the art world. The Marie Bashkirtseff Foundation, established by her family, preserves her memory and promotes her legacy.