In the studio

By the time Stevens exhibited this painting at the Salon of 1892, his status as the consummate painter of chic, Parisian femininity was well-established. The winsome trio of model, artist, and a visitor are posed in what may be Stevens’s own studio, which was known for its stylish arrangement of luxurious collectibles; on the easel is his version of Salomé, based on Regnault’s famous painting of 1870 (now hanging in gallery 804). The open portfolio, pictures-within-a-picture, and mirror (reflecting a mundane coal stove) present an elaborate play on the relationship between art and reality. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)