Portrait of Marie, the artist's daughter 

Alfred Dehodencq made this intimate portrait of his daughter, Marie, in watercolor in 19th-century France. The portrait captures the societal expectations of children within a bourgeois family. Marie is presented as composed and well-behaved, reflecting the values of her social class. Dehodencq's use of watercolor gives the portrait a softness that humanizes Marie, but even in this seemingly candid image, we see the influence of social norms. Her neatly arranged hair and formal attire indicate a carefully constructed presentation, subtly reinforcing the family’s social standing. Understanding this artwork requires us to research not only Dehodencq’s biography, but also the social history of 19th-century France. By looking at domestic arrangements, the illustrated press, and family archives, we can better understand the complex interplay between personal expression and the prevailing social and institutional forces that shaped artistic production.