Charles Chaplin, from "L'Artiste" 1859

Célestin Nanteuil created this lithograph of Charles Chaplin, the painter, for the journal “L’Artiste” sometime in the mid-19th century. At this time, artists navigated a rigid class structure, where success was often tied to institutional approval and social connections. Chaplin, whose full name was Charles Joshua Chaplin, was known for his portraits of women, often depicted in domestic or intimate settings. Yet, here he is the subject, presented through Nanteuil’s gaze. Consider what it meant for artists to portray each other, to shape and reflect the artistic community and its values. There's a certain vulnerability in Chaplin's expression, a departure from the often idealized images of women he created. Perhaps it is a glimpse into the artist's own identity, mediated by his artistic peer. This lithograph invites us to reflect on the reciprocal nature of artistic creation, where identity and representation are constantly negotiated and redefined. It challenges us to see the individual behind the art.