Portrait of Mary Croswell 1763

Joseph Badger painted this portrait of Mary Croswell in the mid-18th century. Badger was one of the first generation of American-born painters working at a time when portraiture served to publicly assert social status and lineage. Consider the gaze of Mary Croswell. It meets ours directly, conveying an assuredness that transcends the conventions of the time, when women were often portrayed as demure and subordinate. The details of her dress, from the fine fabric to the delicate lace cap, speak to her position within the colonial elite, a world largely built on the backs of enslaved people. Yet, the simplicity of the composition also suggests a certain modesty. Looking at this painting, we might ask ourselves how Mary Croswell navigated the complexities of her identity as a woman within the rigid social structures of colonial America. How did she reconcile personal agency with the expectations placed upon her? This portrait invites us to reflect on the lives of women in the past, and their enduring pursuit of autonomy and recognition.