Self-Portrait c. 1725

This is a self-portrait by Nicolas de Largillière, capturing himself with the tools of his trade. The gaze directed at us, with a brush held in hand, is a symbol of creative authority. The brush, like a scepter, signifies the power of the artist to shape reality, a motif traceable back to ancient Egyptian scribes, who wielded their styluses to record and preserve knowledge. Consider, too, the regal robes Largillière dons, reminiscent of ceremonial garb—elevating the artist beyond mere craftsman, positioning him as a figure of intellectual and social significance. The same motif of a hand holding an object resurfaces in portraits across centuries. Initially it represents the artist's mastery and creative independence, and later transforms into a symbol of self-awareness and emotional depth in the Romantic era, which is quite far from the original association with power and social status. As the times change, so too do the symbols.