Self-portrait as a Sphinx Inkwell

Acclaimed French actress Sarah Bernhardt was also a talented artist. This self-portrait in the form of an inkwell presents a surreal, sphinx-like figure in a blend of mythical creatures to symbolize Bernhardt’s artistic versatility. Theatrical masks on her shoulders accentuate her performative identity. This hybrid form, embodying a griffon’s body, bat wings and fishtail, exemplifies late nineteenth-century Symbolist and Art Nouveau aesthetics. Inspired by sixteenth-century Mannerist bronzes, the piece captures Bernhardt’s transformative talents both on and off the stage.