After the Dance 1883

Sir John Lavery painted this introspective oil work, titled 'After the Dance', sometime in the late 19th century. This image speaks to a cultural environment of formal courtship, regulated social interaction, and unspoken emotionality. The woman depicted here is caught in a moment of contemplation after a social event, perhaps reflecting on interactions or a message she holds in her hand. Created during the height of Victorianism in Britain, the image represents the social expectations placed on women of the time, particularly in the upper classes. Her dress and hairstyle reflect the fashions of the period, while her pensive mood hints at the emotional constraints and social expectations that defined women’s lives. To fully understand this work, one might research the social rituals of courtship in Victorian society, or explore the emergence of aestheticism in British art institutions, consulting etiquette guides, fashion plates, and even personal letters from the period. What was the public role of women in art?