Self-portrait wearing Glasses - Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin

A candid 1775 pastel self-portrait by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, depicting the artist in his later years with his signature spectacles and nightcap.

Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin produced this self-portrait in 1775, during the final years of his career. By this stage, his eyesight had begun to fail, leading him to adopt the medium of pastel, which allowed for a more direct application of colour without the lengthy drying times of oil paint. The work captures the artist in his later years, wearing a white nightcap and spectacles, a practical attire he often donned in his studio.

Chardin applies the pastel with a soft, textured touch. The light falls across his face, revealing the subtle contours of his features and the weight of his expression. His gaze is direct, meeting the viewer with a sense of quiet observation. The background remains neutral, ensuring the focus stays on the physical reality of the subject. The artist uses a muted palette of greys, whites, and soft flesh tones, which creates a sense of intimacy and honesty.

This portrait is part of a series of late-life studies where Chardin examined his own appearance with the same rigour he applied to his still-life compositions. He avoids the artifice common in eighteenth-century portraiture, choosing instead to present a candid view of himself as a working artist. The texture of the pastel is visible, particularly in the rendering of the fabric of his cap and scarf, where the strokes remain loose and expressive. This piece offers a view into the personal life of a painter who spent his career documenting the quiet dignity of domestic objects and everyday existence.