Lady 1906

Georgina de Albuquerque painted this image of a woman in oil on canvas while in Paris in 1908. It’s an interesting glimpse into the artistic training of Brazilian artists in Europe at the turn of the century. The sitter, in her pale blue gown, is painted in a style reminiscent of the French Rococo. It’s a self-consciously old-fashioned look, harking back to a time when women were viewed as ornaments within a patriarchal society. But the way she turns to face us disrupts this. Her direct gaze gives the impression of an independent spirit and modernity. Albuquerque returned to Brazil in 1911, where she became an important figure in the Brazilian art world. As well as teaching, she became director of the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes. Investigating Albuquerque’s career in Brazil helps us understand the social and institutional contexts in which her art was made and viewed, and the subtle ways artists negotiate social norms.