Moonlight c. 1885

Alfred Stevens made this painting, Moonlight, at an unknown date, using oil on canvas. It depicts a woman standing on a balcony, gazing out at a moonlit scene. Stevens, a Belgian painter active in Paris, often portrayed women in domestic settings. This image offers a glimpse into the world of the Parisian bourgeoisie during the 19th century. The woman's elegant attire and the luxurious setting suggest a life of leisure and privilege, while the artist positions her to be passively gazing at the open view, suggesting a life of confinement. To understand this painting better, we could explore Parisian fashion and social customs of the time, through periodicals and fashion plates. This helps us to decipher the visual codes and cultural references present in the artwork and the ways in which this challenges the institutionalised view of women. By considering its socio-political and economic context, we can better understand its meaning and significance as a historical document.