Pauline Sandor, Princess Metternich 1860

Franz Xaver Winterhalter painted this portrait of Pauline Sandor, Princess Metternich, using oil on canvas. Winterhalter was a master of depicting luxurious fabrics, as you can see in the layers of tulle, silk, and lace that compose Princess Metternich’s gown. These materials, precious and costly, were painstakingly crafted by skilled laborers. Think about the many hours of work required to weave the textiles, dye them, cut and sew them into a fashionable silhouette. The painting itself is also a product of considerable labor, not just by Winterhalter, but by those who prepared his canvases and mixed his paints. In this image, materiality transcends mere representation to speak volumes about class, labor, and consumption in the 19th century. By examining the materials and processes involved, we gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and social values embedded in this seemingly straightforward portrait.