Untitled [portrait of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot] c. 19th century

This is an undated photograph by H. Lavaud, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, showing a portrait of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. The photograph’s tonal range is limited to shades of sepia, creating an overall impression of warmth and age. The composition is a straightforward, seated portrait. Corot is positioned slightly off-center, holding a palette and brushes, which immediately establishes his identity as a painter. Light gently models his face, giving it a soft focus. The formal arrangement—the way Corot holds his tools, his clothing—contributes to a carefully constructed persona. This image invites us to consider how artists like Corot were beginning to manage and circulate their image through emerging media. It is not just a likeness, but a carefully mediated performance of artistic identity. The sepia tone and soft focus serve not only to capture an image but also to curate a legacy. It's a meditation on how artists present themselves and are remembered.