Lecture “The art of self-presentation: costume as the language of portraiture”

Lecture “The art of self-presentation: costume as the language of portraiture” organized by Association Monégasque pour la Connaissance des Arts (AMCA) will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 6:30 pm in Théâtre des Variétés.

To show oneself is to tell one’s story. In portraiture, clothing is never simply an article of clothing: it is a language. Colors, fabrics, and accessories convey power, wealth, social status, or intimate aspirations. From the sumptuousness of royal robes to the austere attire of thinkers or religious authorities, every detail constructs the image one wishes to leave for others and for posterity. The portrait then becomes a self-presentation, where clothing reveals as much as it conceals, transforming the individual into a character and the viewer into an interpreter.