Explore Jean Dunand’s surreal 1925 portrait of Juliette de Saint Cyr – a luxurious lacquer masterpiece blending Art Deco & Expressionism. Discover its unique style and historical context.
Jean Dunand was a leading Art Deco sculptor and designer known for his innovative use of bronze and lacquer, creating iconic pieces like the 'Grand Paon' screen; discover the timeless elegance of his work.
Attempting to expand the market for natural lacquer products, Dunand experimented with a variety of unorthodox uses for the material, including portraiture, jewelry, and textiles. The sitter for this commissioned portrait, Juliette Schinasi, belonged to a New York family whose fortune came from the production of Turkish cigarettes, and, upon her marriage, she became Marquise Raoul de Saint Cyr. Here, she appears enshrined like a Byzantine deity, surrounded by both geometric and floral patterns rendered in luxurious materials, including white gold. Disengaged from the viewer’s gaze, Schinasi appears ensconced in her own realm of opulence and fashion.
