In this new video, we step inside the painted world of the Gilded Age elite to uncover how society women used portraiture as a form of power, positioning, and personal myth-making. These weren’t passive likenesses, but carefully staged declarations of status, identity, and ambition, crafted by the most sought-after artists of the age.
From scandalous masterpieces to duchess-level image control, you’ll see how oil, pastel, pose, and symbolism helped turn women into icons…and how the canvas became a social stage long before the camera roll and the profile grid.
