# The Large Self-Portrait

**Jean Etienne Liotard** (Swiss, 1702–1789)  
1778/81  
Etching, roulette, and mezzotint in black on cream laid paper  
Sheet: 46.6 × 39.4 cm (18 3/8 × 15 9/16 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2022.273. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/264160).

## About this work

Jean Etienne Liotard made this in 1778/81, aged about 76. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

A work made of etching, roulette, and mezzotint in black on cream laid paper.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Mezzotint.** The whole copper plate is roughened with a toothed rocker so it would print solid black. The artist then scrapes and burnishes it smooth where the lights should be, working from dark to light, which gives soft, velvety tones.
- **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Jean Etienne Liotard](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/jean-etienne-liotard)

Swiss, 1702–1789

## Facts

- Type: Print
- Culture: Switzerland
- The artist was about 76
- Real size: about 18 × 15 in (46 × 39 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Colour: grey
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/418.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/418/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/the-large-self-portrait-aic-264160).