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Jean-Étienne Liotard — Autoportrait — Image creditsJean-Étienne Liotard · Autoportrait · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
Jean-Étienne Liotard — « Autoportrait ». Another work by the artist, chosen as a visual connection to the story.
Jean-Étienne Liotard · Autoportrait · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
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Jean-Étienne Liotard · 5 min read

The self-portrait whose gaze does not play the hero

Around 1778–1780, Liotard turns a pastel self-portrait into a black-and-white print. Mezzotint, engraving and roulette allow him to seek, without colour, a presence he had first conveyed in pastel.

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Jean-Étienne Liotard — Le Déjeuner de la famille Lavergne — Image creditsJean-Étienne Liotard · Le Déjeuner de la famille Lavergne · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Jean-Étienne Liotard — « Le Déjeuner de la famille Lavergne ».
Jean-Étienne Liotard · Le Déjeuner de la famille Lavergne · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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Jean-Étienne Liotard · 5 min read

The coffee whose metal pastel makes shine

In Lyon in 1754, Jean-Étienne Liotard composes a breakfast whose objects shine almost as much as the faces. Nineteen years later, he revisits this large pastel in oil: the same instant becomes another experience of material.

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Jean-Étienne Liotard — Madame Jean Tronchin — Image creditsJean-Étienne Liotard · Madame Jean Tronchin · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Jean-Étienne Liotard — « Madame Jean Tronchin ».
Jean-Étienne Liotard · Madame Jean Tronchin · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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Jean-Étienne Liotard · 5 min read

Madame Tronchin keeps her place in the pastel

In August 1758, Liotard paints Anne de Molesnes, the wife of Jean Tronchin, in Geneva at the age of seventy-four. On the back of the parchment, he reinforces certain features so that the transparency of the support also works on the face.

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Jean-Étienne Liotard — Dame française en costume turc et sa servante — Image creditsJean-Étienne Liotard · Dame française en costume turc et sa servante · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-1789=
Jean-Étienne Liotard — « Dame française en costume turc et sa servante ». Another work by the artist, chosen as a visual connection to the story.
Jean-Étienne Liotard · Dame française en costume turc et sa servante · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-1789=
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Jean-Étienne Liotard · 5 min read

Receiving visitors in the city of Pera

In 1745, Liotard and Giuseppe Camerata share the work on a print originating in drawings made in Constantinople. One handles the faces, the other the clothing and carpet: an artist’s reputation also circulates through this cooperation.

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Jean-Étienne Liotard — Femme en costume turc assise sur un sofa — Image creditsJean-Étienne Liotard · Femme en costume turc assise sur un sofa · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
Jean-Étienne Liotard — « Femme en costume turc assise sur un sofa ».
Jean-Étienne Liotard · Femme en costume turc assise sur un sofa · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
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Proportional resizing and WebP conversion, without cropping.

Jean-Étienne Liotard · 5 min read

A Turkish dress in a European portrait

Around 1751–1752, Liotard returns to a female figure dressed in Turkish clothing. The costume, carpet and sofa organise a scene that reveals the circulation of objects as much as the repose of the person depicted.

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