Self Portrait 

Pierre-Narcisse Guerin created this self-portrait using graphite and white chalk, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century, here in France. Guerin was a prominent figure within the French art establishment, a leading history painter, and influential teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts where this portrait now resides. The image conveys a sense of the artist's status, yet also hints at the changing social role of the artist during this period. Consider the self-portrait's visual codes – the slightly dishevelled hair, the informal attire. Are these markers of romantic genius, or simply the everyday appearance of a man at work? The French Revolution had challenged old hierarchies, creating new possibilities for artists, but also new anxieties about their place in society. Was Guerin consciously crafting an image of the artist as an independent intellectual? Art historians delve into letters, exhibition reviews, and institutional records to better understand how artists like Guerin negotiated these shifting social dynamics, and how those choices are reflected in their art.