Portrait of Caravaggio, turned to the right and looking at his reflection in a mirror (1707–41, Met-Objekt 2344)
Original title: Portrait of Caravaggio, turned to the right and looking at his reflection in a mirror
kurzbeschreibung
Henri Simon Thomassin (1707–1741) depicts the painter Caravaggio gazing at his own reflection in this etching. The undated print, likely made between 1707 and 1741, combines a realistic portrait with vanitas motifs such as the skull.
Description
A bearded man with carefully rendered hair wears a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a sash. His gaze falls into a mirror that throws back his face; his expression is thoughtful, almost tense. A skull rests beside the mirror on a cloth. The mirror forms the center of a symmetrically arranged layout, and light picks out the contours of face and mirror.
Context
Thomassin was an 18th-century French engraver known for reproductive prints. This etching relates to the growing appreciation of Caravaggio, whose work was being reassessed at the time. Mirror and skull draw on the widespread vanitas theme of the period. The sheet, trimmed to 22.2 × 12.4 cm, suggests an originally larger plate.
Impact
The symmetrical layout and the direct look into the mirror create a quiet, reflective mood. Portrait and vanitas symbols together give the print a melancholy depth and prompt reflection on transience.
Technique
The etching is executed in grayscale and relies on fine, sharp lines. This allows hair texture and facial features to be rendered in detail. Light and shadow emphasize the physical presence of the figure and the mirror.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)