Self-portrait in a Straw Hat

Description

Self-portrait in a Straw Hat, Élisabeth Louise Vigée. Vigée-Le Brun paints herself as a charming young lady in an unusually natural pose and appearance for the time. She wears neither a corset nor a wig, which was highly unusual in the period so close to the French Revolution. There is no rouge on her cheeks and her hair is not powdered. She looks confidently at the viewer, with penetrating eyes, a small delicate nose and thin lips. The clothing, in a style then called “a la grècque”, is fashionable but relatively simple, without baroque props and drapes. She wears earrings with a flamboyant straw hat decorated with flowers and ostrich feathers on her head, which was considered artistic at the time. Palette and brushes indicate her profession, which was exceptional for women at the time. Dimensions: height: 97.8 cm (38.5 in); width: 70.5 cm (27.7 in) Location: National Gallery, London