Self-portrait 1771 - 1790

Curator: Well, here we have Justus Chevillet's engraving of Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, created sometime between 1771 and 1790. The print itself is housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It strikes me as rather intimate. A portrait, yes, but more of an encounter, almost a domestic moment—caught in the textures of that turban, those spectacles, all within a meticulously ornamented frame. Curator: Chevillet's engraving, based on a self-portrait by Chardin, provides a fascinating glimpse into the artist's self-fashioning and the public perception of artists in the late 18th century. Think of the implications: royal patronage, membership in the Académie Royale... It’s all part of cultivating his image as a significant figure. Editor: True, the framing certainly emphasizes status, but look closer at the execution. The layering of engraved lines to achieve depth, the tangible feel of fabric...it's a masterclass in how simple materials communicate complex ideas of comfort, age, even perhaps a quiet rebellion against the grandiosity expected of officially sanctioned art. Curator: Interesting point. It seems to me the composition is rather formal, and speaks more towards Baroque sensibilities in portraiture, focusing on conveying gravitas. Editor: Maybe. But the softness of his expression complicates that. I see more than mere gravitas; I see vulnerability, hinted at through the material rendering of wrinkles and slightly unfocused gaze. What's traditionally considered a "lesser" medium – print – achieves something intensely personal. It asks: What labor went into it, who would possess this print, how widely circulated was this image, what was its life among the masses, beyond the royal court? Curator: Ultimately, this image encapsulates the transition of the artist from craftsman to celebrity within Parisian society. Chevillet masterfully captured it, and it invites reflections on how artists controlled their narratives in an era defined by both revolution and rigid class structure. Editor: It is definitely amazing how this work reveals much about not just an artist's persona, but also the very tools and hands that helped construct it, spreading out in an intricate, engraved surface. A compelling look at selfhood.