Self-portrait, profile to the right 

Jules Breton rendered this self-portrait in profile with graphite on paper. The profile view, especially in self-portraits, carries echoes of ancient coins and busts, evoking a sense of timelessness and historical continuity. This deliberate choice of perspective, seen throughout art history, speaks to a desire for self-definition and enduring legacy. Think of Roman emperors immortalized in profile, or Renaissance portraits seeking to capture the essence of the individual. Breton, by aligning himself with this tradition, taps into a collective memory of power, intellect, and artistic achievement. The profile, however, also creates a sense of distance, an introspective mood. We are given only a partial view, suggesting hidden depths and an internal world inaccessible to the observer. This duality—between public persona and private self—reveals the psychological complexity inherent in portraiture. This image resonates because it captures not just a likeness but also the elusive nature of identity itself.