Self-Portrait Hesitating Between the Arts of Music and Painting

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About This Artwork

An allegorical self-portrait showing the artist as a young woman choosing between Music and Painting, personified as classical figures. Music's gentle persuasion contrasts with Painting's firmer gesture toward artistic implements and canvas. The composition synthesizes portraiture, allegory, and autobiography while demonstrating Kauffman's neoclassical style. This work reveals her awareness of career choices and gender expectations in the arts. Her international reputation allowed her to command high prices and establish an independent professional practice rare for 18th-century women artists.