3-089-718 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Théophile Gautier, c1856. Portrait of French writer, poet, dramatist, journalist and literary critic Théophile Gautier (1811-1872). Here Gautier embodies the image of the Romantic poet. He sports an elegant cap of damask cloth trimmed with braid. His shaggy beard and hair seem to grow right into his furry overcoat. He stands gazing thoughtfully away from the camera, solemn and erect, his hand thrust into his waistcoat. Gautier championed the concept of "art for art's sake," that is, that art need serve no other purpose than to exist for its own achievement. Gautier and Nadar were lifelong friends.