Self-portrait 

Gustave Loiseau made this self-portrait in pastel, at an unknown date. Loiseau presents himself here in the archetypal garb of the turn-of-the-century artist. The image is filled with codes that create meaning through cultural and historical associations. The pipe, for example, speaks to the rise of a bohemian counterculture in France, one that emphasized self-expression and individuality. His eyeglasses mark him out as an intellectual. The soft lines and indistinct background place him in the sphere of the impressionists. We can interpret this work by considering the institutional history of the French Salon and the rise of independent art galleries in Paris. Was Loiseau part of the Salon system? Did he benefit from the new interest in landscape painting among wealthy collectors? These are the questions that social art historians ask. By consulting exhibition records, critical reviews, and personal correspondence, we can better understand the artwork and its place in French cultural life.