Portret van Jan van Huysum 1825

Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse made this portrait of Jan van Huysum, though the exact date remains unknown. Mauzaisse lived during a time of significant social and political upheaval in France, including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, so we must consider the effects of these events on his work. It’s hard not to notice how Huysum is presented. During this period, portraiture often served to reinforce social hierarchies and gender norms, so it's interesting to consider whether Mauzaisse's portrait of Huysum challenges or reinforces these conventions. How does the artist’s life and identity intersect with the way his subjects are portrayed? What does it mean to depict a male artist with such delicate features and flowing hair? Consider how such an image might contribute to or challenge existing societal norms and expectations of gender, class and artistic identity.