Oud heertje in 18e eeuws kostuum, in de linkerhand een glas wijn heffend 1832 - 1885

Rodolphe Bresdin made this pen drawing of an old man holding a wine glass sometime in the mid-19th century. The figure’s costume, however, references the 18th century, a period of aristocratic rule that came to an end with the French Revolution. Bresdin came from a poor background and was largely self-taught. But he lived in a France transformed by new social mobility and a growing art market. This drawing might be read as a commentary on the changing social structures of his time. By depicting the older man with such stark realism and detail, Bresdin challenges the idealized portrayals of the aristocracy common in earlier art. Note the contrast between the man’s refined attire and his weathered features, hinting perhaps at the decline of the old order. Understanding the social context of Bresdin’s work requires delving into the history of 19th-century France, its art institutions, and the changing status of artists themselves. Research into the popular imagery of the time might also reveal how Bresdin both drew on and subverted established visual tropes.