Self-Portrait Before an Easel c. 1787

Anton Graff created this self-portrait as an etching, but its date is unknown. It pictures the artist in the act of painting before an easel. Born in Switzerland, Graff made his name as a portrait painter in Dresden, Germany, where he became a professor at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Such institutions played a vital role in shaping artistic styles and career paths, setting standards for artists, and determining who gained recognition and patronage. Graff’s self-portrait suggests the rising status of the artist as a figure of intellectual and cultural importance. The etching medium made images more accessible and helped disseminate artistic ideas. To fully understand this work, it is essential to study the institutional history of the Dresden Academy, the role of portraiture in 18th-century society, and the print market. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.