Pierre Puget c. 19th century

Editor: This is Amédée Félix Barthélemy Geille's portrait of Pierre Puget. What I find striking is how Geille captures Puget's gaze, almost like he's caught in a moment of deep thought. What do you make of that expression? Curator: It feels like a glimpse into the mind of a creative genius, doesn't it? Geille almost lets us eavesdrop on Puget's inner world. I’m thinking of Romanticism, the inner life, a world of feeling, do you see it that way? Editor: I do. It also makes me think about the tradition of portraying artists with this kind of intense, almost melancholic air. Curator: Exactly! I love that you noticed that. It's as if Geille is tapping into this well-worn trope of the artist as a brooding, solitary figure. A rebel, perhaps? Editor: Definitely seeing him with fresh eyes now. Thanks!