Souvenir with portrait of a man 1775 - 1776

This ivory souvenir, with a portrait by Thomas-François Merlin, was made in France in the late 1700s. The portrait itself is painted in watercolor on ivory; then set within a gold frame and ivory box. Ivory was a fashionable and luxurious material in this period. It was relatively easy to carve and polish, and its smooth surface was ideal for receiving delicate decoration. Think about the immense amount of labor involved, not only in the artist's precise brushwork but also in the extraction and processing of the ivory. The box speaks to the global economy of the 18th century and the way in which even small, intimate objects were connected to systems of trade, labor, and consumption. The gold detailing adds another layer of opulence, indicating the owner's wealth and status. All this combines artistry, material, and social context – challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.