Portrait of a Man in Costume
1768
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1768
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a man in a fancy red coat, white cravat, and powdered wig, looking straight at you. Fragonard usually painted playful, romantic scenes, so this stiff portrait is unusual. The brushstrokes are loose—almost like a quick sketch—even though it’s a finished painting. That was his style: fast, lively, and a little messy. If you like this, check out the technique called *impasto*.
