Mozart 

Jean-Baptiste Greuze captured this image of Mozart, though the exact date remains unknown. Greuze's position as a painter of genre scenes allowed him to subtly critique the mores of 18th-century French society. Looking at Mozart, we can consider the cultural expectations placed on prodigies, particularly in a class-stratified world. Was Mozart seen and not heard? His youthful face, framed by a fashionable wig, hints at the performative aspects of genius, paraded around the courts of Europe. This image evokes questions about childhood, privilege, and the burdens of exceptional talent. How does it feel to be seen as a symbol rather than a person? It’s a question that resonates even today.