Portret van Étienne-Joseph-Théophile Thoré 1879 - 1930

This is an anonymous print of Étienne-Joseph-Théophile Thoré, made sometime in the 19th century. Thoré, also known as Théophile Bürger, was a French art critic and journalist who lived from 1807 to 1869. This portrait shows him in a formal suit with a bow tie. It is a straightforward, almost clinical depiction. However, Thoré was anything but a conventional figure. He was a vocal advocate for artistic freedom and a critic of the French Academy's conservative standards. He championed Realist artists like Courbet and Millet, who sought to depict everyday life rather than idealized historical or mythological scenes. This was at a time when the Academy held considerable sway over artistic taste and patronage. His writings challenged the very institutions that defined the art world of his time. To fully understand Thoré's impact, you would want to explore his published writings, the records of the art journals he contributed to, and the exhibition reviews that reveal his progressive stance. The meaning of this portrait lies in the context of the French art world and the social and intellectual ferment of 19th-century France.