Head of a Bearded Man 1848

Charles Jacque made this print, "Head of a Bearded Man," using etching on paper sometime in the mid-19th century. The print reflects an increasing interest in portraiture at this time, as well as the democratization of art through printmaking. Prints like this one existed in a complex relationship with the art market. On the one hand, they made images more accessible and affordable, creating an audience for art among the middle classes. But, on the other hand, the institutions that promoted art, like the French Academy, sometimes looked down on printmaking as a lesser art form. Jacque was part of a generation of artists who sought to elevate the status of printmaking. The image has value as a historical document of artistic taste and of the institutions that helped shape art in 19th-century France. Further study of French art criticism and the records of printmaking societies would no doubt shed more light on its significance.