De jonge schilder 1850 - 1888

Pierre Joseph Toussaint painted "The Young Painter" sometime in the mid-19th century using oil on panel. Here we see the aspiring artist in his studio, surrounded by the tools and trappings of his chosen profession. The bust, the easel, and even the checkered floor all point to the fine art of painting. Painted in Belgium, this work reflects the country's own struggle to define its national identity through art in the decades after its 1830 revolution. Belgian artists were torn between emulating the Old Masters and forging a new, modern path. Toussaint seems to be gently poking fun at the tropes of the art world, even while participating in them. To understand this painting fully, we would need to delve into the art criticism of the time, examining how the institutions of art education and the market shaped artists' careers. Ultimately, this painting serves as a reminder that art is never created in a vacuum, but is always a product of its social and institutional context.