Self-Portrait n.d.

This is a self-portrait in graphite on paper by Horace Vernet, held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Vernet captures himself in profile, with a cigarette dangling jauntily from his lips, smoke curling upward. The cigarette, a relatively new symbol in the 19th century, speaks of modernity and perhaps a touch of rebellion. Yet, smoke itself is an ancient symbol – think of sacrificial smoke rising to the gods, or the smoke that signals a distant fire. It's a transient, ethereal substance, suggestive of transformation and the fleeting nature of life. The casual pose and the cigarette might remind us of similar portraits across time. But consider how different it is from the formal, idealized portraits of the Renaissance. Here, Vernet presents himself as an individual, an artist who is engaged with his contemporary world. It’s a deliberate statement about identity, one that resonates even today.