Portrait of young woman in blue dress 1874

Maurice Poirson painted this striking portrait of a young woman using oil on canvas in the late 19th century. The texture of the paint is thick in places, especially in the woman's elaborate blue dress, creating a sense of depth and volume. Poirson's skilled brushwork captures the rich fabrics, embroidery and fur trim, giving us a real insight into the opulence and materiality of high-society fashion at the time. Consider the labor involved in producing these textiles; from the cultivation of raw materials like cotton and silk, to the skilled craftspeople who wove, dyed, and embellished the fabric. And then there's the fur; which was most likely the product of trapping. It's clear that the sitter is displaying her family's wealth, and her elevated position in society. Ultimately, Poirson's close attention to material detail invites us to consider the complex social and economic systems that shaped this woman's world, beyond simply a ‘portrait’.