Self-Portrait 1846

Curator: Up next, we have Jean-François Millet's Self-Portrait, created around 1846. It's currently held here in the Louvre. What catches your eye first? Editor: The somber mood, definitely. And the…hirsuteness. He’s practically swallowed by his hair and beard. You can feel the weight of the charcoal in those strokes. Curator: Indeed. Millet used charcoal to great effect here, capturing the texture of his unruly hair and beard, contrasting it with the smoother planes of his face. Note how the light, entering from the left, emphasizes his gaze. Editor: That gaze...piercing. It's interesting how he obscures so much with shadow, creating a kind of internal drama. Is he revealing or concealing himself? Curator: It's a question that haunts many self-portraits, I think. Look at the way the charcoal is applied; it’s both precise and suggestive, indicative of the Romantic style, which favored emotional intensity over strict realism. Editor: The sketch-like quality adds to that immediacy. There’s a rawness to it; you feel like you’re witnessing a moment of private contemplation. The subtle gradations, particularly around his eyes, convey so much depth. Curator: Right, we are in close proximity to this artist, this human being. Some say the intensity reflects his struggle for recognition early in his career before he became the celebrated painter of rural life that we know. Editor: Perhaps the roughness also symbolizes that rugged, rural connection. A link between the artist and the land, mirrored in the materiality of the charcoal itself. Curator: Yes, you get that. Though created before his famed paintings of peasants, we can feel hints of the earthiness that would later define his iconic works. Editor: Looking again, the lack of pretense is refreshing. It’s as if he's stripped himself bare, presenting us with a direct, unvarnished glimpse into his soul. It’s a powerful introduction. Curator: Well said. This drawing allows us an almost uncomfortable proximity to the artist, and through those fierce eyes, we see the potential of the artist he would soon become.