Comtesse de la Châtre 1789

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted this portrait of the Comtesse de la Châtre during an era defined by the rigid social structures of pre-revolutionary France. As one of the few women admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, Vigée Le Brun navigated the male-dominated art world by becoming the portraitist of the French aristocracy. The Comtesse is portrayed with a book, which at the time was a symbol of education and status, challenging the traditional gender roles of the era. She is casually posed, yet her elaborate attire and poised demeanor speak to her aristocratic identity. Vigée Le Brun's own experiences as a woman in a patriarchal society allowed her to bring a nuanced perspective to her portrayal of women. As she once said, “In painting portraits, you must consider not only the face, but the entire person.” Through this portrait, Vigée Le Brun provides a glimpse into the lives of women navigating identity, class, and societal expectations on the verge of a revolutionary period.