Portrait of the artist's brother 1866

Henri Regnault painted this portrait of his brother in 1866. The profile view, a format that stretches back to antiquity, presents a face of contemplation. His brother’s gaze avoids direct engagement, inviting us instead into a private world of thought and feeling. We see this echoed in ancient Roman portraiture, where the profile served to immortalize noble figures. Consider, too, the subdued palette, reminiscent of Renaissance chiaroscuro. This technique, favored by masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, uses light and shadow to evoke depth and emotional intensity. It stirs in us a sense of introspection, much like the pensive expressions captured in the funerary masks of ancient Egypt. The act of portraiture, with its echoes through time, serves as a powerful link between generations, a cyclical return to our shared humanity.