Art prints of paintings
Alice Pike Barney

This collection brings together reproductions of Alice Pike Barney (1857–1931), an American artist, writer and patron. Self-portraits, portraits of her daughters, performers, close friends and figures from cultural life form a body of work in which the sitter’s presence matters as much as costume, colour and atmosphere.

A Portraitist Between Paris and Washington

Alice Pike Barney began studying painting seriously in Paris with the portraitist Carolus-Duran, then worked with James McNeill Whistler. These experiences shaped a practice attentive to posture, colour harmonies and the way a face emerges from a simplified background.

Back in the United States, she continued her artistic work despite the social conventions that limited the professional ambitions of women from her milieu at the time. Her paintings reflect the artistic exchanges between France, the United Kingdom and Washington at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Self-Representation: The Self-Portraits

Barney frequently returned to her own image. Self-Portrait at Rest favours a calm, intimate presence, while Self-Portrait with Palette directly asserts her identity as a painter. Variations featuring a hat, veil, mirror or studio clothing trace the construction of this image over the years.

Bringing several self-portraits together creates a coherent series: the same sitter, yet markedly different poses, accessories and intensities. This choice is particularly well suited to a wall devoted to portraiture or the history of women artists.

Natalie and Laura, Models Through the Years

Her daughters Natalie Clifford Barney and Laura Dreyfus-Barney are two essential subjects in her work. They appear as children, adolescents and adults, in portraits that combine family observation with staging. Natalie at Seven, Natalie with a Violin and The Writer Natalie Clifford Barney form a sequence across different ages and roles.

For Laura, Laura in White, Laura in a Green Cape and the more intimate studies show how clothing, light and pose renew the portrait of the same sitter.

Artists, Actresses and Cultural Life

Barney’s gallery extends beyond the family circle. Dancers, actresses, writers, diplomats and friends entered her world. The portrait of Ruth St. Denis evokes modern dance, while Mrs Patrick Campbell brings the theatre to mind. These sitters testify to the artistic networks Barney participated in and supported.

In Washington, she had Studio House built at the beginning of the twentieth century. This space became a studio, exhibition venue and gathering place for cultural encounters. Her portrait practice, patronage, salons and theatre projects thus formed part of the same commitment: to give the arts a greater place in the American capital.

Reverie, Symbolism and Staging

Not every work is a portrait of identity. Some favour an absorbed figure, an imaginary setting or an accessory charged with mystery. The Crystal Globe, Reverie and Arcadia create contemplative or theatrical atmospheres.

In Woman and Peacock, the silhouette, plumage and colour organise a decorative composition. These images can be paired by mood rather than by the identity of the model: light tones, costumes, fans, veils, gardens or nocturnal scenes.

Beyond Portraiture

The collection also includes landscapes, maternity scenes, nudes and studies. In the South of France broadens the selection towards landscape, while Mother and Sleeping Baby favours an intimate scene. This diversity makes it possible to create a less uniform display while retaining the same artistic signature.

Choosing an Alice Pike Barney Reproduction

For a narrative grouping, pair a self-portrait, a portrait of Natalie or Laura and a Symbolist composition. For a more graphic interior, bring together works sharing a dominant colour, a framing or an accessory. Vertical portraits suit narrow spaces; broader compositions can structure a main wall.

For the poster option, the print is offered on 140 g paper with a 150 DPI HD finish. Dimensions, canvas and framing options vary according to the artwork, format and destination. The product page lists only the available variants.

Explore Related Collections

Continue with Carolus-Duran paintings, works by James McNeill Whistler, reproductions of paintings from the United States or posters of female portraits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Alice Pike Barney?

Born in 1857 and died in 1931, she was an American artist, author, patron and organiser of cultural projects, particularly active in Washington.

What are the main subjects in this collection?

Self-portraits, Natalie and Laura, figures from the performing arts, family and friends, Symbolist scenes, several landscapes and figure studies.

How can I find out which supports and formats are available?

Open the artwork page, then choose the support and dimensions. The available options depend on the product and destination.