The Hidden Layers of Seurat's 'Young Woman Powdering Herself'
Uncover a hidden portrait in Georges Seurat's 'Young Woman Powdering Herself' (1888-1890).
Out of the seven major compositions Georges Seurat (1859-1891) produced in his short career, this work is the artist's only known self-portrait.
Young Woman Powdering Herself (1888/1890) by Georges Seurat The Courtauld Institute of Art
Seurat had learned from the Impressionists how to capture light through colour. From this, he developed pointillism.
Seurat used a tight juxtaposition of small dots to model his figures and landscapes. The dots were meant to blend in the viewer’s eye, creating a dynamic image with volume.
Following optical theories that were being formulated at the time, he placed complementary colours like orange and blue next to each other for greater contrast.
The woman, Madeleine Knobloch (1868-1903), was Seurat's partner and is depicted applying her make-up.
Knobloch is seated at a small table. The cramped surface holds a delicate stand with a mirror and two perfume bottles.
The frame above the sitter's head stands out in the painting as it is out of proportion in relation to the rest of the composition, very angular in comparison to the curved lines surrounding it, and painted much thicker than the rest of the painting.
Young Woman Powdering Herself (1888/1890) by Georges Seurat The Courtauld Institute of Art
The thickness of the vase of flowers led art historians to wonder if it may have been painted over another image.
Young Woman powdering Herself Young Woman powdering Herself (1888/1890) by Georges Seurat The Courtauld Institute of Art
Recent technology provided historians with a clear image of what is underneath the vase of flowers, a self-portrait.
Young Woman powdering Herself Seurat's Hidden Self Portrait The Courtauld Institute of Art
With an elongated face and a pointed beard, this man bears close resemblance with other known likenesses of Seurat. Holding a paintbrush in hand, the artist represents himself painting.
This painting remains as his only known self-portrait to exist.
Young Woman Powdering Herself (1888/1890) by Georges Seurat The Courtauld Institute of Art
After being ridiculed by a friend, Seurat replaced his likeness with a vase of flowers, painting over his only known self-portrait.
Explore more of The Courtauld's collection
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Want to learn more about Seurat's self-portrait beneath his vase of flowers?
Watch Karen Serres, curator of paintings at The Courtauld, investigate Seurat's Young Woman Powdering Herself
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Georges Seurat (1859-1891), Young Woman Powdering Herself , around 1888-1890, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld
Young Woman powdering Herself Young Woman powdering Herself (1888/1890) by Georges Seurat The Courtauld Institute of Art
