Portret van Guillaume Coustou 1730

This is Nicolas de Larmessin's portrait of Guillaume Coustou, made using etching and engraving techniques sometime in the 18th century. It is interesting to consider the artistic and social structures that made this portrait possible. Larmessin, as an engraver, was part of a network deeply embedded in the court and academic circles of the time. Coustou, a sculptor for the King, is shown here not just as an individual, but as a figure of the French Royal Academy. The portrait includes signifiers of his identity, such as the tools of his trade and a sculpted head, these elements underscore Coustou's status and skill. The gaze and open posture of Coustou suggest a man confident in his position, yet there is an undeniable performativity in the image. The elaborate wig and the carefully arranged tools are visual cues of the era’s emphasis on status and artistic virtuosity. In its own way, this portrait is as much a fabrication as any of Coustou’s sculptures. It offers us a glimpse into the constructed identities of the artistic elite.