Who painted Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher?

Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher was painted by Vivant Denon in 1786.

Where can I see Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher?

Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher?

Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher

Vivant Denon , 1786

Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher is an ink print by the Baroque artist Vivant Denon. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1786, this etching on laid paper bears the title *Citizen Aubour, Print Publisher*. Executed by the French artist Vivant Denon, the work presents a single figure rendered in fine line work and chiaroscuro shading, characteristic of late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a man in contemporary dress: a powdered wig with curls at the sides and back, a high‑collared white shirt, and a dark jacket. His head is turned slightly to the right, his expression neutral, suggesting a straightforward, perhaps documentary, representation of a professional printer rather than an allegorical or mythological figure.

Technique & Style

Denon employed traditional copper‑plate etching, allowing for delicate incised lines and varied hatching to model light and shadow. The contrast between dark and light areas creates a sense of depth, while the texture of the paper surface contributes to the overall tonal richness, reflecting the technical precision of French printmaking at the close of the Ancien Régime.

History & Provenance

The portrait was produced during Denon’s early career, prior to his later fame as a curator of the Louvre and participant in Napoleon’s Egyptian expedition. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work survives in several museum and private collections, attesting to its circulation among collectors of eighteenth‑century French prints.