Self-Portrait (with Cows)

About this artwork

This etching represents Jean Jacques de Boissieu's mature printmaking style and his practice of inserting himself into rural landscape settings. Dated to 1796, late in the artist's career, this self-portrait places Boissieu amid cattle, integrating portraiture with the pastoral subject matter he frequently depicted. The work is designated as the seventh state of eight according to Perez's catalogue raisonné, indicating the artist's careful refinement of the plate through multiple stages. Such pr...

Art Historical Context

In 1796, French etcher Jean Jacques de Boieu crafted this whimsical *Self-Portrait (withows)*, a seventh-state impression from a plate refined across eight meticulous stages. Working from his base in Lyon rather than the bustling Paris art scene, Boissieu in his career blended portraiture with pastoral landscapes, placing himself humbly among grazing cattle. This etching captures the Enlightenment-era celebration of rural virtue, evoking the simple textures and serene atmosphere of countryside life. Influenced by 17th-century Dutch masters, Boissieu's mature style shines through in his etching technique: delicate cross-hatching for soft shadows, bold lines for accents, and rich tonal gradients that mimic the play of light on fur and foliage. The generous 14 3/4 × 11-inch format allowed expansive details, from the cows' textured hides to distant hills, showcasing etching's enduring power in late 18th-century France. Acquired in 1967 as part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this print highlights Boissieu's dedication to perfection and his unique contribution to printmaking—inviting us to ponder the artist's kinship with nature's gentle giants.

About the Artist

Jean Jacques de Boissieu · 1736–1810

French, Lyons 1736–1810 Lyons