Helyot, Mme. 1683

Editor: This is Antoine Masson’s portrait of Madame Helyot. It's undated, but the inscription says she died in 1682. The tight framing feels very formal. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Portraits like this were often powerful statements about identity and status. Consider what it meant for a woman to have her image circulated in this way. What narratives might this portrait reinforce, or perhaps challenge, about women's roles in 17th-century Parisian society? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in terms of social commentary. Thanks! Curator: These images can be surprisingly complex! It is worth thinking about the position of women in society.