Charles Emile-August Carolus-Duran’s piece titled Portrait of an Artist in her Studio represents the action of a women painting. This piece was made in the late 19th century (c. 1880) and was considered one of Carolus-Duran’s great society portraits. The piece’s present location is the La Salle University Art Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its original location was *****. This portrait is oil on canvas, and the “quick, loose brushwork” technique can be accredited to masters such as Diego Velasquez and Edouard Manet (placard.) Just as the painting suggests, the painting’s subject is an artist, many say Carolus-Duran’s wife or mistress, in her studio. It is medium in size, 45.5 inches by 34.25 inches, and one must take a step back in order to view its entirety. From its size, the painting was most likely intended to be the centerpiece of a living room or parlor.
The portrait depicts a woman, with a studio that is visible in the backdrop. Present are the use of very soft pastel colors, pinks, whites, and shades of gold. These colors are very typical for the late 19th-century French portrait and create a softness …show more content…
We can recognize the subject’s high stance through her expensive dress, and prominent jewelry. The realism of this portrait is a result of the “contemporary Impressionism” and “more conventional painting techniques” (placard.) Carolus-Duran has this idea that wasn’t common for the late 19th century France. The idea that a woman is not just a figure to be painted, and object, rather a being that thinks and has a purpose. It is through the act of painting itself, that the subject is doing that lead to this conclusion. Due to this active painting, we are able to see the contemplation that this woman has, once again establishing this idea of validation over objectification. This painting is not only a work of art but a social
The portrait depicts a woman, with a studio that is visible in the backdrop. Present are the use of very soft pastel colors, pinks, whites, and shades of gold. These colors are very typical for the late 19th-century French portrait and create a softness …show more content…
We can recognize the subject’s high stance through her expensive dress, and prominent jewelry. The realism of this portrait is a result of the “contemporary Impressionism” and “more conventional painting techniques” (placard.) Carolus-Duran has this idea that wasn’t common for the late 19th century France. The idea that a woman is not just a figure to be painted, and object, rather a being that thinks and has a purpose. It is through the act of painting itself, that the subject is doing that lead to this conclusion. Due to this active painting, we are able to see the contemplation that this woman has, once again establishing this idea of validation over objectification. This painting is not only a work of art but a social