Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt is part of my HeArt of Paris series, inspired by the remarkable women who lived, worked and made their mark in Paris between 1850 and 1940.

Known around the world as one of the greatest actresses of her time, Sarah was far more than a performer. She was also a painter, sculptor and writer, a woman of enormous creativity who repeatedly reinvented herself throughout an extraordinary life.

In my portrait I wanted to capture something of that strength and independence rather than create a photographic likeness. I painted her through bold colour, layers of acrylic and expressive texture, surrounding her with decorative elements inspired by Art Nouveau.

The design also pays tribute to Alphonse Mucha, whose celebrated posters of Sarah helped define the visual language of the era. The sweeping golden lines and patterns surrounding her suggest that theatrical world without attempting to reproduce one particular Mucha work.

Her crossed arms give her a sense of confidence and self-possession. And although her gaze is slightly different from some of my other Paris women, she still meets us directly. She isn't simply Mucha's muse or the actress in somebody else's production. She occupies her own space.

Sarah Bernhardt continued performing despite enormous challenges and became an international celebrity long before our modern idea of celebrity existed. For me, she represents resilience, creativity and the courage to live life on one's own terms.

The original painting forms part of the collection behind my book The HeArt of Paris: A Unique Journey Honouring Women Who Made the Evolution of Art Possible.