Neapolitan woman 1882

Henrique Pousao painted this portrait of a ‘Neapolitan Woman’ in the late 19th century, a period when European artists often depicted people from different cultures, sometimes reinforcing stereotypes. Pousao, a Portuguese artist, captures a woman in traditional Neapolitan dress, which signals her identity and perhaps her social status. Her clothing, with its unique patterns and fabrics, tells a story of regional culture and craftsmanship. The way she stands, with a hand on her hip, suggests a sense of pride and self-possession. But we might also wonder, what was it like for her to be painted by a foreign artist? Did she have a say in how she was portrayed? While Pousao’s intentions may have been to capture the ‘exotic’ beauty of Naples, we can also see this as an opportunity to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in portraiture. It invites us to consider the untold stories and individual experiences behind such representations.