Double portrait of a young girl (Mademoiselle Lafuite) 1883

Paul Gauguin created this striking painting of Mademoiselle Lafuite, a young girl, using oil on canvas. The double portrait, with its somber tones and introspective mood, offers a glimpse into the social conventions of late 19th-century France. The girl's formal attire and reserved demeanor reflect the era's emphasis on propriety and the careful cultivation of social image, and the art institutions of the time reinforced those values. Gauguin, however, often challenged these norms through his artistic choices. While the portrait adheres to certain conventions, the intensity of the subject’s gaze hints at a deeper complexity. To fully understand this artwork, we might explore the history of childhood portraiture, examining how artists have depicted children across different periods. Archival sources such as letters, diaries, and social commentaries of the time could provide insights into the expectations placed on young girls. Such research reveals the intricate interplay between individual expression and the social forces that shape it.