François Flameng and Paul Helleu 1880

This is John Singer Sargent's portrait of François Flameng and Paul Helleu. Notice how Flameng looms in the background. This composition—one figure emerging from behind another—resonates deeply with the motif of the 'doppelganger.' Across cultures, the doppelganger represents a dual self, a mirror image that can herald change or forebode ill fortune. In this portrait, Helleu is presented in a more accessible way while Flameng lurks as a shadow, perhaps indicative of the changing tides in the art world. Consider the symbolic weight of the profile view—a choice that distances us from Flameng, reducing him to a silhouette. This recalls ancient cameos and coins where profiles signified power but also anonymity. It is a recurring image in the history of art, echoing through time. It’s a visual echo of the subconscious. The profile becomes a mask, concealing as much as it reveals.