Karl Lagerfeld's intimate letters on view at Spazio Opis in Rome

Over 600 letters and faxes from Karl Lagerfeld to Armelle de Bascher, mother of his late partner Jacques de Bascher, are displayed at Spazio Opis in Rome. Curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili, the exhibition 'C’était bien' runs until July 30, 2026. The correspondence spans more than 25 years, from Jacques de Bascher's death from AIDS in 1989 to Lagerfeld's own death in 2019. The show includes photographs, drawings, books, and personal notes, revealing Lagerfeld's private grief and his meticulous aesthetic even in sorrow. The installation features an immersive letter projection and vitrines evoking an emotional mood board. Lagerfeld always addressed Armelle de Bascher with the formal 'lei' (you), maintaining a ritual distance. The title 'C’était bien' reflects the attempt to transform mourning into permanence through writing.