Société des Aquafortistes (Frontispice) 1865

Félix Bracquemond created this print, Société des Aquafortistes, to serve as the frontispiece for a publication by the French Etching Society. Bracquemond was central in championing etching as a fine art in France. This print reveals the tension between classical ideals and the realities of nineteenth-century French society. Here we have a nude woman gazing into a mirror, a classical trope used to explore themes of beauty and vanity. Yet, she is flanked by a hound and a crouching Asian-inspired lion. These images point to the expanding global interactions of the French in the nineteenth century. The woman's gaze takes on a different meaning when viewed through this lens. The woman appears self-possessed. This is emphasized by the symbolism of a woman looking at herself, and owning her image. Bracquemond transforms traditional representations into a complex statement about cultural identity and artistic vision, while encouraging us to question how we see ourselves within a broader global context.