Wednesday, November 23

Fashion 101: X

Let's be real. How many words even start with X?  Maybe 10?  So I'm going to do a little switcharoo today. Let's talk art.

Madame X

Definition: A portrait painting by John Singer Sargent of a young socialite name Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau, wife of Pierre Gautreau.  The model was an American expatriate who married a French banker, and become notorious in Parisian high society for her beauty and rumored infidelities.  She wore lavendar powder and prided herself on her appearance.

Madame X
In Madame X, what's interesting is the use of exposure versus the amount that's hidden.  The majority of her figure is covered, as is one side of her face.  However, her porcelain white arms that are heavily contrasted against the black dress are exposed along with her shoulders, which was risque for those days.  It makes quite a statement in sexuality, mystery, and societal perceptions.


Credit: Wikipedia

1 comment:

  1. I had to do a paper on this painting in college. It was all about the use of light. She's a fascinating character isn't she?

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