Dora Fournier-Gabillon 1879 - 1880

Hans Makart painted this oil portrait of Dora Fournier-Gabillon during a time of great fascination with ornamentation and theatrical display. Consider the jewelry draped around her neck: necklaces, historically symbols of status, protection, and connection to the divine, now adorn the sitter as mere fashion. This reflects a shift in societal values, where spiritual significance gives way to aesthetic appreciation and perhaps, a touch of vanity. Even her hair decoration, resembling a crown, blurs the lines between aspiration and reality, symbolising something between regality and the performance of it. Think back to ancient times and religious iconography, where the adornment of sacred figures conveyed their elevated status. Now, fast forward to this portrait, where similar symbols are re-purposed to enhance the sitter's earthly presence and social standing. It is a curious transformation of meaning over time, a psychological dance between the sacred and the secular, playing out on the canvas before us. A mirror on a handle in her right hand is a final mark of her vanity. These symbols of beauty and status echo throughout art history, constantly evolving, each time reflecting the changing desires and anxieties of the human heart.