Paris, Portrait of Irma 1882

Marie Bashkirtseff painted this portrait of Irma in 1882, using oil on canvas, a traditional fine art material. Bashkirtseff's loose brushwork and attention to light reflects the influence of impressionism. Look closely and you can see how the material qualities of oil paint—its viscosity and sheen—allow the artist to create a sense of spontaneity and movement. The visible brushstrokes contribute to the artwork's sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment in time. Consider also the hat, adorned with flowers. It speaks to the culture of Parisian fashion, which relied on the labor of countless seamstresses and milliners. These were often women of the working class who toiled in difficult conditions to produce luxury goods for the wealthy, including artists like Bashkirtseff herself. By acknowledging the social and economic context of the work, we gain a deeper appreciation for the choices made by the artist, and are prompted to consider the complex relationships between maker, subject, and viewer.