In 1800, at a time when women were not respected as serious artists, Marie-Guillemine Benoist painted this portrait of a Black woman, which now resides in the Louvre.
I'm also officially hooked on your substack. This was so incredible well said about a powerful painting. I've always wondered about the model as well as the artist. It's such a stunning painting, and as you aptly pointed out there are so many layers to it. I also didn't know about the end of the artist's life, though I suppose it's not surprising. Thank you for writing this! I'm officially a new fan.
It’s a powerful work of art, for sure. Thanks for sharing something that is new to me and for your perspective. I agree with most of what you say, especially your I-Thou Namaste reflection. Regarding the possibility of exploitation in this case, though, I think you might be forgetting the history and development of the nude as an acceptable and common subject for artists, especially from the Renaissance onwards, many white European painters using white women and men as models. It began with religious and mythological subjects, but expanded to include more naturalistic nude portraits of contemporaries, all prior to 1800. To that extent, this painting is part of a tradition, not necessarily just one of a vulnerable black woman. Also, even regardless of that, what we see in the painting is not just the nudity, but a cultural representation., indicated by the traditional clothing. It’s invariably true that the strict social mores of European society at the time would dictate that a lady should not undress in public, but would those same social mores govern this woman’s social existence? If the answer is no, just on a sociological level, this painting can be called a bold and realistic depiction, not an attempt to cover up and ‘Europeanize’ her. It’s her clothing, that contributes to her dignity, not her vulnerability. Just some thoughts that I hope are helpful. Thanks again.
I'm also officially hooked on your substack. This was so incredible well said about a powerful painting. I've always wondered about the model as well as the artist. It's such a stunning painting, and as you aptly pointed out there are so many layers to it. I also didn't know about the end of the artist's life, though I suppose it's not surprising. Thank you for writing this! I'm officially a new fan.
I enjoyed reading this! I learned something new! Thank you!
It’s a powerful work of art, for sure. Thanks for sharing something that is new to me and for your perspective. I agree with most of what you say, especially your I-Thou Namaste reflection. Regarding the possibility of exploitation in this case, though, I think you might be forgetting the history and development of the nude as an acceptable and common subject for artists, especially from the Renaissance onwards, many white European painters using white women and men as models. It began with religious and mythological subjects, but expanded to include more naturalistic nude portraits of contemporaries, all prior to 1800. To that extent, this painting is part of a tradition, not necessarily just one of a vulnerable black woman. Also, even regardless of that, what we see in the painting is not just the nudity, but a cultural representation., indicated by the traditional clothing. It’s invariably true that the strict social mores of European society at the time would dictate that a lady should not undress in public, but would those same social mores govern this woman’s social existence? If the answer is no, just on a sociological level, this painting can be called a bold and realistic depiction, not an attempt to cover up and ‘Europeanize’ her. It’s her clothing, that contributes to her dignity, not her vulnerability. Just some thoughts that I hope are helpful. Thanks again.
I love the woman’s expression in this painting. She looks so calm and self-assured - almost regal. She exudes dignity. So beautiful.