Pandora Jules-Joseph Lefebvre (1836-1911)

The painting depicts a nude young woman, Pandora, standing in a dimly lit and somber environment. She is adorned with a golden laurel wreath on her head and a flowing piece of sheer fabric draped over her left shoulder and behind her. Her gaze is directed towards the viewer with a blend of innocence and apprehension. In her hands, she holds an open alabaster box, from which wisps of smoke or vapor seem to be escaping. Above her head, a single, bright star shines against the dark background.

The subtexts of the painting are rich and multilayered, drawing directly from the Greek myth of Pandora.

• Curiosity and Temptation: Pandora, the first woman created by the gods, was given a jar (often depicted as a box) and warned not to open it. Her opening the box represents the inherent human curiosity and the temptation to explore the forbidden, which can lead to unforeseen consequences.
• The Origin of Evils: When Pandora opened the box, all the evils of the world – sickness, death, hatred, and so on – were released into humanity. This element is subtly suggested by the dark, tumultuous background on the left, hinting at the chaos that has been unleashed.
• Hope: While Pandoras act brought suffering to the world, the myth also states that Hope (Elpis) remained trapped inside the box when Pandora closed it in haste. The single, bright star above Pandoras head is a powerful symbol of this enduring hope, representing the possibility of solace and resilience even in the face of immense hardship.
• Innocence and Guilt: The painting captures Pandoras youthful and relatively unblemished appearance, highlighting her initial innocence. However, her act of opening the box signifies a loss of that innocence and an introduction of guilt, both for herself and for humanity.
• Feminine Agency and its Consequences: As the first woman, Pandoras actions set a precedent for human experience. The painting can be interpreted as exploring themes of feminine agency, the power of women, and the sometimes disastrous consequences attributed to their choices in patriarchal narratives.
• The Divine and the Human: The presence of the star, a celestial symbol, suggests a divine element or oversight in Pandoras existence and her pivotal role in the unfolding of human destiny. The painting thus bridges the divine and the human realms through Pandoras story.