Portraits of Women Stepping Out Into the World : Notes on William Merritt Chase

Nov. 1 is the birthday of a painter of America’s Gilded Age (1870s-1900) who showed women of his time ready to claim their space in society.

William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) paid homage to one of his fellow portraitists in his painting “The Lady in Black,” but did so in a way that brought honor — and not infamy— to the subject.

John Singer Sargent, “Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau),” 1883–4. Chase, “The Lady in Black,” 1888. Both works owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Images in the public domain.

The painting on the left is John Singer Sargent’s Madame X, a beautiful and unforgettable image.

This painting shocked Parisian art circles on its debut.

Sargent initially showed his subject, the Louisiana-born wife of a banker, with one of her straps slipping on her shoulders. Sargent later painted the strap back in place, attempting to soothe ill feelings after the outrage this work cause. But he clearly meant for this to be a sexy painting. Check out the full-size sketch of this painting.

Sargent, “Study of Mme Gautreau,” c.1884. Tate, which kindly provides a download of this image in the public domain.

Madame X’s head is turned to put on display her lovely neck. But she is posed in an odd and uncomfortable way, seemingly leaning on the…