Julie Le Brun Looking in a Mirror 1787

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted her daughter, Julie, looking in a mirror at the end of the 18th century. It offers an interesting commentary on the social status of women in France. Vigée Le Brun was one of few women admitted to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, but her acceptance was controversial given the prevailing societal norms. This painting perhaps subtly reflects this context, depicting Julie in an introspective moment with a mirror, a classic symbol of vanity but also of self-awareness. The loose clothing, though, contrasts sharply with the elaborate, formal portraits typical of the time, which could be seen as a subtle rebellion against the restrictive conventions imposed on women. As historians, we can draw on letters, journals, and institutional records to interpret the work of Vigée Le Brun. Seen in its social and institutional context, art reveals how societal expectations shape artistic expression.