For this Piece of the Week, I chose a painting by Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. Her life as an artist during a time when women faced significant barriers to becoming artists resonated with me, which is why I selected this piece. Labille-Guiard was an advocate for women artists, and her story brought me comfort as I processed the recent election. If you’d like to learn more about her life, I highly recommend the Vulgar History podcast.
The specific piece I’m highlighting is Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, dated 1785, which is on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. After hearing the story behind the painting, my friend recently visited the museum to see it. She mentioned that it took her a while to find and that it’s massive, taller than her!
In the painting, you see three women: one, presumably Labille-Guiard herself, painting at an easel, while two younger women look over her shoulder. This composition reflects her activism, as she boldly showcases her efforts to include women in the art world. Without access to art and learning, I might never have discovered my own love for it. To me, this artwork is not just a symbol of resilience but also a testament to the value of knowledge, something I aim to share here.
Interestingly, Adélaïde Labille-Guiard was one of only two women admitted to the Royal Academy in 1783, a time when the Academy strictly limited membership to two women at a time. Typically, these positions were held for life, meaning a spot only became available upon a member's death. That same year, Labille-Guiard faced a scandal that led to her ostracization from the Academy. However, she eventually returned, and her remarkable “comeback” was Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, now celebrated as an iconic masterpiece of 18th-century French art.