Portrait of Antonin Proust 1884 - 1888

This is Auguste Rodin's drypoint etching, a portrait of Antonin Proust. Created during a period when France was grappling with its identity in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, this image captures a man who was deeply embedded in the French political and cultural scene. As a former Minister of Fine Arts, Proust was an advocate for the arts, and his friendship with Rodin placed him within a network of influential figures. Rodin, in turn, was an artist who navigated the complex social structures of his time, seeking patronage and recognition. This portrait, with its stark lines and intimate scale, offers a glimpse into the dynamics of power, influence, and representation in late 19th-century France. It reveals the subtle ways in which identity and social status were constructed and conveyed through art.