Portrait of Madame X 1884

Marie Bashkirtseff rendered this intriguing portrait in pastel, likely in Paris, sometime in the 1880s. The woman’s identity remains unknown, thus she is only referred to as Madame X. Bashkirtseff’s work is an interesting reflection on the evolving status of women in French society. During this period, debates surrounding gender roles were intense. Madame X is enveloped in a large fur which denotes her wealth and status. However, her expression is hard to read. The woman is neither smiling nor frowning and is looking slightly to the right which makes her appear rather aloof. Marie Bashkirtseff's own story is one of a woman battling for recognition in the male dominated art world. She had to fight for her place in the Académie Julian, which although progressive for its time, still imposed restrictions on women artists. The image invites questions: who was Madame X? What was Bashkirtseff trying to say about the representation of women? Examining letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews from the period might give us some clues, reminding us that art is never made in a vacuum.