Aphrodite in Blue (1936–1938)

This chapter details events in Roland Penrose's life from 1936 to 1938. In late 1936, Roland and Valentine went their separate ways. After Valentine left for India, Roland had brief affairs, but he was certainly not prepared to encounter a goddess who would sweep him off his feet. On 21 June 1937, Roland was invited to a surrealist fancy dress party at the home of the Rochas family in Paris. In order to be as surrealist as possible, Roland had dyed his right hand and left foot blue, wore paint-encrusted trousers and a filthy old coat. Costumed in this scruffy way, he met American photographer Lee Miller. From the outset of their affair, Roland and Lee agreed that neither would prevent the other from having sexual relationships with others. For them, true freedom meant a lack of possessiveness. True love obviously transcended sex. Back in London, Roland would continue to have liaisons with a number of women; back in Egypt Lee would see other men. The couple recounted their adventures to each other.