Joseph Ducreux - Madame Élisabeth (1768)

Joseph Ducreux (1735-1802) was a French painter known for his portraits and genre scenes. He was born in Nancy, France, and trained in Paris under the painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze. Ducreux's style was characterised by a lively and expressive use of the brush, as well as a strong sense of humour. He often portrayed his subjects with exaggerated facial expressions and poses, giving his paintings a sense of theatricality and whimsy. Ducreux was particularly adept at capturing the personalities of his sitters, and his portraits are considered some of the finest examples of 18th-century French portraiture. Today he is best known for his self-portrait, which has become an internet meme and popular culture icon.