After the Misdeed by Jean Béraud

 Hello to all the lovely creatures out there!

Today I am back with a new painting to talk about! So lets start from the beginning. The painting was created between 1885-1890 by the french artist Jean Béraud. 

After the Misdeed  - Jaune Béraud

The work depicts a solitary figure, a well-to-do lady, nicely dressed, seated in a dimly lit space. Her posture is tense, with her head bowed and her hands clasped in her face. It appears that it could be either a moment or regret or reflection. This kind of composition draws the viewers attention, inviting speculation about the nature of her "misdeed".

Peaking in the historical context surrounding the painting there's some very interesting take about it. Created in the late 19th century the creation of this painting coincides with the Belle Epoque era that was a time of significant cultural and social transformation in France. Especially the city of Paris was known to be the city of contradictions. While it was celebrated for its artistic innovation, it was also marked rigid societal norms that concerced mainly morality and behavior. In this context, Adter the Misdeed reflects the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. Women in particular, were often judged harshly, facing both public and private shame. Béraud's painting seems to be capturing exactly this moral rigid.

The painting's themes also align with the artistic currents of the late 19th century, like Symbolism, which often explored morality,sin and the subconscious. Béraud's depiction explores exactly these themes, offering an in-depth commentary. The woman is depicted in a moment of vulnerability, her body language and expression convey a mixture of remorse and introspection. Her bowed head and clasped hands suggest a struggle with guilt, inviting the viewers to empathize with her.

On my take, it is a painting with great psychological depth, that turns into a sharp commentary about the era and its many psychological implications and limitations that were imposed to people and particularly women. The questionable pose of the woman leaves many to be interpreted by the viewer, in the end there is no real explanation for the deed, no one wil know besides the woman. 

Well, that's all for now guys, I hope to see you in a future post!

xoxoxo