Portret van Jacqueline de Caestre 1889 - 1890

Charles Theodore Bernier made this portrait of Jacqueline de Caestre in Belgium. It offers an intimate view into the life of a woman in the upper class at the turn of the century. The sumptuous clothing, pearl necklace, and delicate lace collar are all visual cues that tell us of wealth and social standing. This image creates meaning through cultural references to class and historical associations to the old masters. The artist made specific choices about the composition of the image to make Jacqueline seem like the subject of a painting from centuries earlier. This was a time of great social change in Europe, and art institutions played a central role. Artists could either reinforce or challenge existing social norms. Further research into the records of Belgian society at the time, along with a detailed analysis of Bernier's artistic influences, might tell us if he was consciously commenting on the social structures of his time, or if he was, perhaps, reflecting on the past.