Eugenie, Empress of the French 

Franz Xaver Winterhalter painted this portrait of Eugenie, Empress of the French, in oils on canvas. Winterhalter was known for his portraits of European royalty, capturing their likenesses while also subtly reinforcing their power through idealization. The choice of the profile view is interesting. On the one hand, profiles evoke classical portraiture and nobility. Yet, they also present a contained, almost impersonal view of the sitter. Eugenie was a Spanish noblewoman who married Napoleon III, becoming a prominent figure in French society. As Empress, she was celebrated for her beauty and fashion sense, but also scrutinized as a foreigner navigating the complex world of the French court. Winterhalter doesn’t give us a direct gaze or an intimate glimpse into her personality, instead presenting her as an emblem of imperial beauty. There's a sense of detachment, as if she's both present and distant, caught between her personal identity and her role as a public figure. This portrait reflects both the allure and the constraints placed upon women in positions of power during the 19th century.