Portrait of a Man

The Portrait of a Man by Jean–Auguste–Dominique Ingres (French, 1780–1867) is an elegant example of early 19th-century graphic arts. Executed between 1815 and 1825, this work utilizes the relatively new medium of lithography. This technique, a key development in the history of prints, allowed the French master to achieve subtle gradations of tone and velvety blacks on ivory wove paper, differing significantly from the sharp clarity of copperplate engraving.

The subject, rendered in three-quarter profile, embodies the reserved dignity characteristic of the post-Napoleonic era in France. Though Ingres is traditionally known for his precise, Neoclassical line work in oil paintings, his extraordinary draftsmen skills translate seamlessly into the lithographic form. The portrait demonstrates an economy of line combined with deep chiaroscuro, suggesting the emerging Romantic influences that were permeating high art during this period. The use of light and shadow emphasizes the psychological intensity of the sitter, a key feature in Ingres’s portraiture whether rendered through paint or printmaking.

This piece is significant because it illustrates Ingres’s engagement with commercial printmaking formats outside of preparatory drawing, offering a glimpse into the diverse output required of a successful artist in 19th-century France. Preserved today in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this work remains an important reference for scholars studying the transition from Neoclassicism to Romanticism. As many of Ingres’s prints are now widely available and entering the public domain, they continue to be essential resources for studying his masterful approach to form and character.