She stands, tall, in her black dress, the epitome of class, style, and grace. Suspended in time as a relic from a gilded age of the past, her effortless attitude has made her cooler than cool for well over a century. Dubbed Madame X, her identity has been clouded in mystery, only adding to her allure. But in this episode we give Madame X back her name and share her incredible life story.

Listen to ArtMuse’s episode on Virginie Amélie Gautreau, an American-born socialite who sent shock waves through Paris with her avant-garde outfits and experimental make-up. Her story traverses the Atlantic, taking us from the French Quarter of New Orleans to Paris at the height of its golden age. 

In this episode, we explore her rise to celebrity status and the infamous painting that led to it all crashing down.

Be sure to follow ArtMuse on Instagram & TikTok. Donate to ArtMuse HERE.

ArtMuse is produced by Kula Production Company.

Today’s episode was written by host Grace Anna.

There are accompanying images, resources and suggestions for further reading on the ArtMuse website and Instagram.