Buste van een heer 1776 - 1802

Jean-Augustin Léveillé made this print, “Buste van een heer,” using etching and engraving techniques. The print depicts a man in elaborate finery, encased within an oval frame. The man's extravagant hat, adorned with feathers, and his lacy frilled shirt and shawl are all visual markers of wealth and status during the 18th century in France, when this print was most likely made. The visual codes tell us a story about the subject, likely a member of the French aristocracy. Prints like this circulated widely, helping to solidify social hierarchies through the display of elite fashion. But more than this, these prints speak to the institutional history of artmaking. Consider the role of academies in dictating taste and the function of prints in disseminating it widely. As art historians, our job is to examine these objects, delving into archives and libraries to better understand their place within the society of their time.