Eye Of The Day

Margaretha Geertruida "Grietje" Zelle (1876-1917) was one of those femme fatales, whose identity still remains questionable until this day. Who was she? Was she really a double agent? Or was she just an exotic dancer who somehow got embroiled with one of her many political lovers? Zelle was found guilty for espionage and executed by firing squad in France. Born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, she had lived in Indonesia for 8 years before relocating to Paris where she assumed the stage name of Mata Hari, meaning 'sun' (literally "eye of the day"), in Indonesian language. Famous also for being a courtesan, her Oriental-styled dance and exotic stage identity soon became very popular in Paris. Which all this led to a life shrouded in mystery, notorious love affairs, spying accusations and eventually death

Stage life as Matahari

Matahari started dancing in 1903 in Paris

Matahari took inspiration in Orientalism

Famous for her provocative and flirtatious dance persona

Also very popular as a courtesan

Matahari was notorious for her willingness to pose almost nude

Off stage life - as Margarathe Zelle

Zelle was once married to an Indonesia-based Dutch officer

All images sourced from Google Images