Madame Élisabeth de France (1764–1794) 1782 - 1792

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard created this pastel portrait of Madame Élisabeth de France around 1788. Immediately, the oval composition and soft, muted colors draw the eye, creating a serene and aristocratic presence. The delicate blues and whites contrast with the subject's powdered hair and elaborate headdress, evoking a sense of restrained elegance typical of the late 18th century. Labille-Guiard, a contemporary and rival of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, presents the sitter with a certain formality yet captures an intimate quality through her direct gaze. The composition uses shape and colour to present the sitter as a signifier of status and grace, consistent with the semiotic codes of representation of women during this period. There is no destabilization, however the artist emphasizes the sitter's inherent nobility and the complex social structure of the French court. Consider, finally, how the oval shape and soft focus contribute to the overall impression of idealized beauty, reflecting the cultural values and aesthetic preferences of the era. This is an image deeply embedded in the visual and philosophical language of its time.