Bacchante à l’œil-de-bœuf 1905

Louise Abbéma created this cover for "Le Figaro Modes" in 1905. Abbéma, a woman artist who achieved recognition in the Parisian art world, navigated a society that often marginalized women. Here, Abbéma reimagines traditional representations of women. Typically, Bacchantes were portrayed as frenzied, ecstatic followers of Bacchus, the god of wine. Abbéma's Bacchante, however, is serene, with a thoughtful gaze, framed by an oeil-de-boeuf window, symbolizing sophistication and access. The cover's context within a fashion magazine adds another layer: it suggests an intersection of art, fashion, and female identity. The Bacchante, adorned with grapes and leaves, merges classical mythology with contemporary style. "I paint what I love, and I love what I paint," Abbéma once said. Her affection for her subjects shines through in the sensitive portrayal of this mythological figure. Ultimately, Abbéma's "Bacchante" reflects a moment of shifting cultural attitudes, where women artists like herself were beginning to assert their voices and visions in the public sphere.