Portrait of Sydney Isabella Milner-Gibson 1872

James Tissot made this portrait of Sydney Isabella Milner-Gibson, using oil paint. At first glance, the painting’s realism is quite convincing. But look more closely and you’ll see the artifice. The artist is less interested in capturing the sitter’s likeness than in showcasing virtuoso brushwork. Consider the sheer black dress, it's a play of light and dark, rendered with rapid, confident strokes. Or the way that the ruffles are suggested with just a few flicks of the wrist. This wasn't only about showing off the artist's skill. The depiction of the woman's luxurious attire, set against a backdrop of bourgeois comfort, reflects the rising consumerism and industrial production of the late 19th century. All those frills and flourishes demanded skilled labor. Tissot transformed paint into an advertisement for wealth, and as an emblem of a society preoccupied with appearances. He asks us to consider the cost of beauty, both in the literal sense and in terms of labor that made it all possible.