Portrait of Jeanne-Elisabeth Sellon, Lady Tyrell c. 1746

Curator: Here we have Jean-Étienne Liotard’s pastel portrait of Jeanne-Elisabeth Sellon, Lady Tyrell, dating to around 1746, now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's…strikingly restrained for a Rococo portrait. There's a quietness, almost a melancholy, despite the beautiful dress and fine details. The muted color palette seems to be adding on the feeling, I’d say. Curator: Liotard was a master of pastel, and what interests me is the tangible texture he creates, a sense of fabric and skin made of pure pigment applied to the support. You can almost feel the silk of her gown. Look at the rendering of that ribbon... what do we know about its provenance, and the material production? Editor: Those bows, placed strategically on the sleeves and bodice...they really capture that Rococo playfulness. Blue ribbons often represented fidelity, adding depth to her presentation of marriage, family lineage, as if her role in society as a Lady had deep historical roots and significance. Curator: It’s more than symbolism, isn't it? These commissions financed the whole workshop practice. Consider how Lady Tyrell here engages with new modes of self-display, and how she becomes a point of commodity exchange itself. I'd love to know about the lace edging of her sleeve...that's hours of labour on display right there! Editor: Perhaps, the fan in her hand can also mean that she’s cooling herself off and preventing desire to get the best of her. It may also indicate refinement or suggest social standing. What do you think about it? Curator: Or it could also serve to conceal and protect… these materials acted not only to reveal status but also to perform a controlled sense of propriety, what materials allow the sitter to actively control… fascinating. It opens so much possibility. Editor: Yes! Looking closer, I wonder what the artist sought to evoke... beyond her wealth. Does the slight turn of her head away from the viewer, hints some inner conflict? Or simply a carefully constructed pose. The question always will remain... Curator: The very labor and display of material culture and capital as a public performance. Thank you for pointing towards how portraits help us question labor dynamics through visual representation, Editor: Well, together, perhaps we unlocked another layer of interpretation for our listeners, bridging materials and deeper symbolism.