Mademoiselle Guimard 1773

Jacques Louis David painted ‘Mademoiselle Guimard’ with oil on canvas, a traditional medium, but to capture something new: celebrity culture. Oil paint allows for the rich blending and layering we see in the sitter's lavish dress. It's easy to miss the labor involved in creating such luxury. The lace, ribbons, and silk roses adorning her gown, and the corset that shapes her body, all speak to the work of many unseen hands. These skilled artisans, mostly women, toiled to produce the materials necessary for elite fashion. David’s mastery of painting imitates the textures and forms of those crafts, elevating them to the realm of fine art. He gives dignity to the decorative and applied arts, which are so easily dismissed. This portrait reminds us that all art, whether painting or fashion, is rooted in material and making. It challenges us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in all forms of creative expression.