Greek Girls 

Thomas Sully painted ‘Greek Girls’ in 1840 during a period when Western art was deeply engaged with classical antiquity. However, the piece also resonates with the Romantic era’s fascination with emotion and intimacy. Sully, known for his portraiture, here turns to an allegorical subject. The title suggests an exploration of Greek identity, but the subjects are presented through a Western, and indeed, a male gaze. The softness of the brushstrokes and the delicate coloring evoke a sense of idealized beauty, while the closeness of the figures hints at a narrative of sisterhood or affection. The woman on the left is seminude. This, combined with the women’s close proximity, suggests an erotic subtext. Yet, the artwork skirts the line of respectability as the figures maintain a degree of modesty. What might it mean to depict women in this way during a time of shifting social expectations for women? Are these figures empowered or are they merely objects of aesthetic contemplation? The emotional ambiguity of the piece reflects the complex ways gender and identity were constructed and perceived in the 19th century.