Zelfportret 1780 - 1820

Josef Clarot made this self-portrait sometime in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century using a now relatively obscure printmaking technique called mezzotint. This image offers a window into the artistic and intellectual aspirations of its time. Clarot’s portrait is replete with visual cues about his cultural interests. The sculpture of Hercules is a clear reference to classical antiquity. The book he holds signifies erudition, and the cameos on the table speak to his interest in the art of collecting. The choice of mezzotint is itself quite telling. The process of creating this kind of print demanded a high level of technical skill that few artists possessed. As such, it was often associated with academic art institutions, where artists were trained in the most difficult methods. By analyzing the artistic techniques employed and decoding the visual language within, we can begin to understand the values of the artist and the society in which he lived. Research into the collections of the period would help us understand this image better.