Portrait of Madame Courcelles 1750

Jean-Baptiste Greuze painted this portrait of Madame Courcelles with oil on canvas. Here, the artist’s process, particularly his layering of paint, helps to create the textures of lace, silk, and skin. The brushstrokes are delicate, almost glazed, building up the image like fine needlepoint. And that's appropriate, because the lace trim at her neckline and sleeves would have been made by hand, a painstaking and valuable commodity in the eighteenth century. Notice, too, the red and white striped ribbon. These were produced by specialized weavers, often in workshops, and were a mark of status. Even the smooth, reflective surface of the canvas contributes to the overall effect of luxury. You can see that the portrait isn’t just a representation of Madame Courcelles, but a study in the materials that defined her world. By attending to the craft and labor that went into the textiles, we can better appreciate the social context of the painting.