Sarah BernhardtFrench, 1844–1923Self-Portrait as a Chimera
May one see it?
Yes, receiving visitors
Art Institute of Chicago
Room223Chicago, United States
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
French actor and artist Sarah Bernhardt was perhaps the first global superstar, with legions of admirers spread across Britain, continental Europe, North and South America, and as far afield as Australia. In this fantastical bronze inkwell, she portrayed herself as a chimera, a mythological creature composed of disparate body parts. Here, Bernhardt joined her human torso and head to clawed haunches, bat wings, and a dragon-like tail. The work is a key example of her inspired use of visual media to fashion and promote her own image.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Particulars
- Accession number
- 2021.2
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
