La Parisienne 1880

Alfred Stevens painted “La Parisienne” to offer a glimpse into the life of an upper-class woman in the 19th century. In it, we see more than just a portrait; we observe a moment of constructed identity. Stevens, though Belgian by birth, spent much of his career in Paris, chronicling the lives of elegant women like the one we see here. She stands in what seems like a domestic garden, adorned in an elaborate dress that speaks to her class and status. Her poised stance, her hand confidently placed on her hip, and the presence of a small dog as a companion, all contribute to an image of controlled femininity. But who was this woman beyond her attire? The painting offers a space to consider the roles available to women of her time. Were they limited to being symbols of beauty and wealth? Or were they negotiating their positions within a society that both celebrated and confined them? “La Parisienne” encapsulates the tensions and complexities inherent in the lives of women during that era.