In 1770, Jean Jacques de Boissieu created "Study of Thirteen Heads," an etching now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Boissieu lived during the Enlightenment, a period where reason and observation were highly valued. This work reflects that interest, serving almost as a catalog of human character through its detailed studies of different faces. However, it's important to consider who gets represented and how. The prominence given to older, bearded men suggests a reverence for age and perhaps authority, while the fleeting glimpses of women in servant-like roles provide a stark contrast. The artist's own social standing as a bourgeois man undoubtedly shaped his perspective. Boissieu isn't just showing us faces; he's offering a glimpse into the social hierarchies of his time. It makes me think about how we assign value and visibility even today, and who gets to be seen and remembered.