Zelfportret 1849

This etching is a self-portrait of Frédérique Émile Auguste O'Connell-Miethe, dating from around the mid-19th century. The image presents the artist in a soft, romantic light, typical of portraiture at this time in Europe, especially within artistic circles. Yet, as we consider O'Connell-Miethe's decision to portray herself as an artist, we can speculate about the social conditions that might have shaped her practice. What institutions supported her work? How was she trained? And what was the status of women artists at this time? The inscription suggests that the print was made for a select group of acquaintances, rather than for public consumption. Further research into the artist's biography and the networks in which she participated would offer more insight into the cultural context of her work. The meaning we ascribe to this self-portrait is necessarily contingent on a reconstruction of its social and institutional history.