Self-Portrait with Eyeshade - Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin

A late-career self-portrait by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, captured in pastel. The artist is depicted wearing a practical eyeshade and spectacles, reflecting his focus on his craft during his final years.

This work is a late-career self-portrait by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, executed in pastel. By the 1770s, Chardin had turned to the medium of pastel due to failing eyesight, which made the precise application of oil paint increasingly difficult. This shift allowed him to continue his practice with a different technical approach, focusing on the soft, layered application of pigment that characterises his final years. The portrait depicts the artist wearing a white cap and a green eyeshade, a practical accessory used to shield his eyes from harsh light while working. His spectacles are perched on his nose, and he wears a simple, informal scarf around his neck. The composition is direct and unadorned, focusing entirely on the artist's face. The lighting is subtle, casting soft shadows that define the contours of his features and the texture of his clothing. Unlike the formal, posed portraits common in the eighteenth century, this image offers a candid view of the artist in his studio environment. Chardin was primarily known for his still-life paintings and domestic scenes, yet his late pastels demonstrate a mastery of human expression and character. The muted colour palette, dominated by soft greys, browns, and the distinct green of the eyeshade, reflects the artist's focus on atmosphere and light. The texture of the pastel is visible in the delicate blending of tones, particularly around the eyes and the folds of the fabric. This work provides a glimpse into the personal life of a painter who spent his career observing the quiet details of the world around him. It remains a significant example of his late-period technical adaptation and his ability to capture a sense of presence through minimal means.