Artist in her Studio

From the 1850s onwards, the Belgian painter Alfred Stevens built a successful career in Paris as a painter of and for the beau monde, whom he always portrayed in richly decorated interiors. The approach in the Artist in her studio, one of his favourite topics, is rather unusual, since 19th century women were generally depicted as models or admirers and…

From the 1850s onwards, the Belgian painter Alfred Stevens built a successful career in Paris as a painter of and for the beau monde, whom he always portrayed in richly decorated interiors. The approach in the Artist in her studio, one of his favourite topics, is rather unusual, since 19th century women were generally depicted as models or admirers and rarely as artists. The mirror here is not a symbol of vanity but a practical tool for painting a self-portrait. Stevens most likely depicted one of his female students. Some say it is the most famous of them, the actress Sarah Bernhardt.