Artwork
Unidentified Man
Unidentified Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around the turn of the nineteenth century, this mezzotint and engraving presents a solitary figure in profile.
About this work
Overview
Created around the turn of the nineteenth century, this mezzotint and engraving presents a solitary figure in profile. Rendered in black on wove paper that has been affixed to a brown backing, the work measures only a few inches in diameter, reflecting the modest scale typical of many portrait prints of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a man’s head and upper torso turned sideways, dressed in a dark coat complemented by a light cravat. His expression is restrained, with a subtly defined nose and lips, suggesting a formal, perhaps documentary intent rather than an idealized portrayal.
Technique & Style
Executed through the combined processes of mezzotint and engraving, the print achieves a rich tonal range despite its monochrome palette. The circular format, a popular choice for miniature portraiture, emphasizes the sitter’s features while the fine line work conveys the texture of clothing and facial details.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist known for his series of small portrait prints, the piece belongs to a larger collection of similar circular likenesses. Its mounting on brown wove paper indicates a later conservation effort to preserve the delicate original surface.
Context
During the early 1800s, such portrait prints served both as personal mementos and as records of notable individuals. Saint‑Mémin’s practice of producing numerous compact portraits aligns with contemporary demands for affordable, reproducible likenesses among the emerging bourgeois class.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
