Marie-Gabrielle Capet
The 18th century in France can be regarded as a transformative era for women as they increasingly stepped into new societal roles. This shift was evident in the art world as well, where pioneering women painters like Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun and Adélaïde Labille-Guiard began to establish professional careers toward the century's end. Both artists were among the first women elected to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, paving the way for a growing number and importance of women in both the Academy and broader society.
One such artist, Marie-Gabrielle Capet, was born in Lyon and later trained in Paris under Labille-Guiard. Capet was among the 21 women artists who exhibited their works in the Salon of 1791, right after the French Revolution. In her self-portrait (painted circa 1783), Capet appears holding a drawing chalk in a holder, poised before her easel. The painting captures her youthful face at 22, radiant and fresh, as she wears a blue satin dress stylishly open at the chest, adorned with matching ribbons that echo the lighthearted spirit of the 18th century. Yet, beyond its Rococo charm, the portrait also exudes a straightforward, unaffected quality that hints at the evolving artistic styles of the next era. At this point, the storm of the French Revolution loomed, and the art world was beginning to resonate with a revived idealism inspired by the classical art of Greece and Rome, as well as a realism attuned to the emerging citizenry in society.
I love this self-portrait: Capet is so confident and proud of her profession and talent. You can find it in our bestselling Women Artists 50 Postcards Set. :)
P.S. Here are 10 famous self-portraits by women artists! Do you know all of them?