Artwork
Unidentified Man
Unidentified Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1800, this mezzotint and engraving presents a solitary male figure in profile, rendered entirely in black on wove paper that has been affixed to a brown-wove backing. The image is confined to a small circular format, a size typical of collectible portrait albums of the period. The work is attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a noted French printmaker.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown from the side, his head and upper torso turned toward the viewer. He wears a dark coat contrasted by a light cravat, and his expression is restrained, conveying a sober, perhaps contemplative demeanor. The portrait’s focus on a single individual reflects the era’s interest in documenting personal identity within social networks.
Technique & Style
Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the print achieves tonal depth through delicate gradations of black ink on the smooth surface of wove paper. The mounting on a darker paper enhances contrast, while the circular composition emphasizes the figure’s profile, a compositional choice common in early‑19th‑century portraiture.
History & Provenance
The piece belongs to a series of small circular portraits that Saint‑Mémin produced for inclusion in personal albums, a popular practice among the educated classes for recording acquaintances. While the identity of the sitter remains unknown, the work has been retained within the artist’s oeuvre and is now part of a museum collection.
Context
During the turn of the 19th century, portrait albums served as visual registers of social connections, especially among the French émigré community. Saint‑Mémin’s prints, with their refined tonal qualities and portable format, catered to this demand, offering a discreet yet enduring record of individuals within a network.
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.
