Gilded Innocence: Portraits of the American Fin de Siècle

An exploration of late 19th-century American portraiture, capturing youth, identity, and social transition at the edge of a new century.

This exhibition examines the visual language of portraiture during America’s Fin de Siècle, a period marked by cultural refinement, social tension, and emerging modern identity. Through carefully selected works, the exhibition reflects how artists portrayed youth, elegance, and restraint during a time of transformation.

The portraits reveal more than appearances—they offer insight into values, class structures, and emotional nuance. Subtle gestures, carefully chosen attire, and controlled compositions speak to both innocence and expectation.

By presenting these works in dialogue, the exhibition invites viewers to consider how portraiture functioned as both documentation and idealization, capturing moments of quiet reflection before the dramatic shifts of the 20th century.