Joseph Ducreux (June 26, 1735 – July 24, 1802) was a French portrait painter, pastelist, miniaturist, and engraver.
Ducreux specialized in portrait painting, and his early portraits were done in pastel, and include those done of the connoisseurs Pierre-Jean Mariette, the Comte de Caylus and Ange-Laurent de la Live de July.
He also made several well-known self-portraits in the late 1780s, including one in which he painted himself guffawing and pointing at the viewer (above) and another of himself in the middle of a large yawn (below).
He is also the world’s first Hip-Hop artist, and these pieces are typically coupled with some of his best lyrics.
He’s also been the basis of many of today’s most popular hip-hop sayings and rap lyrics, including:
- Disregard females. Acquire currency.
- Gentlemen, I inquire, who hath released the hounds?
- Remove thyself from mine path wench. Step aside, step aside.
- Do not despise the racketeer, instead despise the sport.
- I say, it must be your hindquarters, because it is certainly not your visage.
- I am faced with nine and ninety adversaries, among them is not a single female.
- Male brethren prior to harlots.
- Loathers shall loathe.
We should all be grateful for his meaningful and lasting impact in Hip-Hop.
I’m weak. This is sheer brilliance.
