Portræt af Francois Louis Arlaud, kunstnerens broder 1766 - 1829

Louis Ami Arlaud painted this portrait of his brother, Francois Louis Arlaud, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. This intimate portrayal, just 8cm by 8cm, offers us a glimpse into the artist's personal world and the social milieu of his time. The artwork provides a window into the significance of familial relationships and the role of portraiture in affirming identity and status. It's worth thinking about the dynamics of brotherhood and how these were expressed during this era. It also presents us with a very specific type of masculinity. Does the artist's rendering of his brother align with or challenge conventional representations? Consider how the portrait plays with themes of identity, representation, and the power of the gaze in shaping social perceptions. What aspects of the self are being presented here?