Same Thing, Two Stories: Symbols of Power Dynamics
Portrait of a Woman and an Enslaved Servant
Nicolas de Largillierre
1696
Oil on canvas
Marked with CC0 1.0
Historically, the wealthy would indulge themselves with painted portraits as a way of showcasing their wealth and status. Here, a woman poses in her silk dress, with her exotic bird and child slave looking up at her ready to serve. The woman remains proud and composed alongside her ’possessions’, which have been accumulated through highly problematic and unethical means.
Self-Portrait
Egon Schiele
1911
Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper
Marked with CC0 1.0
On the contrast, Self-Portrait by Egon Schiele is not portrayed in vanity, instead celebrating self expression. The artist is known to have struggled with his mental health, presenting the viewer with a nude self-portrait, which could demonstrate empowerment or the venerable state of the artist. The status of owning this artwork in the present day would come from the prestige of the artist, their signature style and value of the work.
With thanks to The Metropolitan Museum of Art