Curator's Statement
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le-Brun; Overcoming Social Implications was created because I was researching women artists working in the 1700s. I felt drawn to this time period because of the many social constraints women were facing, and how Elisabeth was able to support her family from a young age and would continue to do so throughout her life. As I continued my research into France before and after the French Revolution, I was surprised to find a wave of feminism in France and the spread of women gaining and spreading information. Once I started researching Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le-Brun, I found her memoir had been translated into English, giving her own perspective and thoughts looking back on her life. Learning about her firsthand accounts gave me insight into Parisian society through her eyes and gave me a different perspective on Marie-Antoinette.
About the Curator
Madalyn Wnenta is a senior at Northern Arizona University studying Studio Art emphasis, Sculpture and a minor in Museum Studies. Currently, I am interested in preparator work and cataloging. Conducting this research has opened my eyes to how Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le-Brun gained financial independence and separated from her husband while having a successful career.
