Women, Power, and Paint: Striving for Equality in Revolutionary Paris

Alongside the French Revolution of 1789, a cultural revolution was also unfolding as the first generation of professional female painters stepped into the spotlight and challenged the foundations of artistic inequality. Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun and Adélaïde Labille-Guiard stand out as extraordinary examples of women who forged successful careers in a world still shaped by male authority. They stormed the official institutions of their day and defied convention at every turn.

As we reflect on their achievements on International Women’s Day 2026, their story becomes even more resonant. In a moment of immense political and social upheaval, these artists used their talent and tenacity to claim space, demand visibility, and reshape the narrative of what women could accomplish.

We’ll look at their portrayals of the Royal Family and evolving ideas of motherhood, but most of all, at their self-portraits — bold acts of identity and agency that signalled a new artistic future shaped by women.