c. 1778-81
Jean-Étienne Liotard Swiss, 1702-1789
Switzerland
Liotard was a pastellist, painter, printmaker and writer who travelled across Europe over the course of his career, and exhibited a taste for the exotic in his dress and his subjects. Portraits were his specialty, and he was known for the sober, simple, close likenesses he achieved. This shows the artist in a frank self-appraisal, revealing perhaps a sense of humor regarding his own station.
Roulette and engraving over mezzotint on ivory laid paper