Portret van schilder Jean-Etienne Liotard in Turkse dracht met baard en bontmuts 1752 - 1762

This is Carlo Gregori’s portrait of Jean-Etienne Liotard, rendered in printmaking technique. The composition is strikingly simple: a frontal depiction of Liotard, his gaze direct, framed by the soft textures of his fur hat and flowing beard. The color palette is restrained, dominated by muted tones that lend the piece a sense of solemnity. Gregori captures Liotard in what was then considered exotic attire. This choice disrupts the conventional codes of portraiture. The texture of the fur contrasts with the smooth areas of the face, creating a sensory experience that complicates the act of viewing. The semiotic complexity here is rich. The Turkish dress destabilizes established meanings of identity and representation. Gregori’s work invites us to question how categories of identity are constructed and negotiated through visual representation. This portrait exists not as a celebration of mastery, but as an open-ended exploration of cross-cultural fascination.