Ms. Irene Adler

Ms. Irene Adler

Illustration of Irene Adler

Irene Adler, referred to by Sherlock Holmes solely as *the* woman, is noted as one of the most prominent female characters in the multiple Sherlock Holmes stories crafted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This distinction, though the character appears only in the first of Doyle's short stories on Holmes - "A Scandal in Bohemia" - is due to Adler's ability to outwit the famed detective, and escape his hunt. Described in the shirt story as an American-born opera singer who is both beautiful and intelligent, Adler's character breaks many norms for women during the time period in which this story is set (adding largely to her appeal to both the story's characters and the audience). She is shown to be independently wealthy through her ownership of property in her own right, which in turn would allow her to hold the power to vote in her society. Adler is further implied to be a sexual being before her marriage, as indicated by the serious nature of her relationship with the King and his concern over the nature of their relationship being exposed. She is greatly admired by Holmes for her wit and theatricality, as indicated by the character requesting her portrait in payment for his services to the King, and her noted position in Holmes' lexicon as *the* woman. In modern adaptations and re-imaginings of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Adler is commonly (and falsely) characterized as a love-interest for Sherlock Holmes, and has occasionally been portrayed as the story's antagonist. Watson, in "A Scandal in Bohemia," explicitly states that Holmes is by no means in love with Adler, but does frequently note the detective's high admiration for the singer. Irene Adler is often noted on lists of early feminist characters in literature, and in truth served as personal icon of mine growing up (I adored and frequently reread "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes").
This illustration, created by Charles Dana Gibson, in drawn in similar likeness to Lillie Langtry, who is believed to serve, in part, as an influence on Conan Doyle's crafting of the character. Langtry was known during her time as the mistress of the future King Edward VII, despite her marriage to another man. Langtry's beauty was well documented in a series of paintings and illustrations, and her image (and affair with the Prince of Wales) served to guide not only Irene Adler's depictions, but female characters of Oscar Wilde as well. The choice of Gibson as the illustrator of this piece solidifies the characterization of Adler, as influenced by Langtry and depicted within Conan Doyle's story; Gibson as an artist was renowned for his illustrations of women, which were meant to dismantle ideas of traditional femininity by portraying beautiful women in positions of strength and assuredness.

Charles Dana Gibson

Norman Rockwell Museum

Unknown

Unknown

Public Domain

Ink on Paper

Illustration

Illustration