Many art sources have also questioned what The Cursed Woman (1859) story is all about and how the subject matter, which appears to convey pleasure, relates to its title, which alludes to being “damned”. We see this in The Cursed Woman painting, which unabashedly conveys a sexual act, seemingly without any inhibitions, undertaken by four, who appear to be, women. However, Octave Tassaert also produced paintings with overt erotic imagery, with women also as the central characters. The Deserted Woman (1852) by Octave Tassaert Octave Tassaert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 1850), An Unfortunate Family or Suicide (1852), The Deserted Woman (1852), and others. Some of his central figures were women, depicted in various situations, notably his portrayals of women and their children, either in despair or death, for example, the Destitute Dead Mother Holding Her Sleeping Child in Winter (c. One of his nicknames was “Prud’hon of the Poor Man”. Octave Tassaert was known for depicting scenes in his paintings ranging from religion, allegory, and history, for example, Heaven and Hell (1850), while also producing various genre paintings that explored the harsh and everyday realities of urban life, depicting scenes about death, homelessness, sickness, and poverty. ArtistĬontextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview

We will then discuss a formal analysis, providing a visual description and some of Octave Tassaert’s stylistic approaches in terms of the art elements like color, texture, form, and so forth. The Cursed Woman (1859) by Octave Tassaert in Contextīelow we will discuss a brief contextual analysis, exploring The Cursed Woman (1859) story, also titled in French as La Femme Damnée. Self-portrait holding a brush and palette (1854) by Octave Tassaert Octave Tassaert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons He became highly regarded within the field of social justice because of his paintings’ serious subject matter. He was famous for history and genre paintings, especially exploring everyday issues like homelessness, suicide, and sickness.ĭue to problems with his eyesight and alcoholism, he eventually stopped painting and committed suicide. He attended the École des Beaux-Arts in 1817 and exhibited his paintings in the Paris Salon, which he discontinued in 1857. He worked as an engraver and lithographer, as well as an illustrator. He was from a family of artists and learned from his family members who were engravers and sculptors. Nicolas François Octave Tassaert was born on July 26, 1800, and died on April 24, 1874.

5.3 Where Is The Cursed Woman Painting Now?Īrtist Abstract: Who Was Octave Tassaert?.5.2 What Is The Cursed Woman Painting About?.3 Formal Analysis: A Brief Compositional Overview.2.1 Contextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview.2 The Cursed Woman (1859) by Octave Tassaert in Context.

1 Artist Abstract: Who Was Octave Tassaert?.

Octave tassaert