L’Essayage IV 1985

Léonor Fini likely painted 'L’Essayage IV' in France in the mid-20th century. It depicts a woman trying on a gown, assisted by two kneeling servants. The image creates meaning through visual codes and historical associations. This arrangement recalls the tradition of aristocratic portraiture, wherein displays of wealth and power are carefully arranged to convey social status. The presence of servants highlights the sitter's elevated position. However, Fini subverts these traditional codes. Her androgynous figure and surrealist style challenge the conservative norms of the art establishment. The role of the artist in the 20th century was changing and Fini was one of many women who challenged the old boys' club. To understand this painting better, one can research the history of portraiture and the development of surrealism, but also the institutional histories of exhibitions and the art market. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.