Portrait of Fernand 1876

Félix Bracquemond created this etching titled ‘Portrait of Fernand’ in France. The print gives us an image of a man dressed in what might be a historical costume, leaning casually against what seems to be a garden wall. The etching technique renders the scene in great detail, with close attention paid to the textures of the costume and the foliage surrounding the figure. France in the 19th century was caught up in thinking about its own past, and how that past should be represented. The image doesn't seem to be a straightforward portrait of an actual person, but more like a study of costume, or even a theatrical character. The institutional context of art education in France at this time would have encouraged artists to copy historical styles and to think carefully about the relationship between past and present. Understanding this artwork fully means considering the artistic institutions and cultural values of 19th-century France, for which scholars might consult period publications and exhibition reviews. The meaning of the artwork lies in the way it engages with those contexts.