The Toilet of Psyche 1823

Joseph Paelinck painted "The Toilet of Psyche" with oil on canvas, a piece acquired by the Rijksmuseum. Here, Psyche is attended to by her handmaidens, as in a scene from classical mythology. This composition reflects the period in which it was made, that is, early 19th-century Europe. Looking at the image, consider the revival of interest in classical antiquity known as Neoclassicism. We see this in the architecture and dress, in the smooth handling of paint, and the controlled composition. These were all features of academic art in institutions like the French Academy, where some artists hoped to revive classical ideals of beauty and civic virtue. To what extent did this artwork comment on the social structures of its time? Art historians might investigate the exhibition history of this work in order to understand how it was received by the public. Paelinck’s painting is now understood in its social and institutional context.