Auguste Luchet

The writer Auguste Luchet regards the camera directly yet distrustfully. His life had been difficult, and his character and appearance were noted for their outward harshness. He was at least twice Nadar's subject, first in 1851 when Nadar made him the subject of a captioned caricature and second when he posed for the camera. Despite his rough-hewn appearance, Luchet had a delicacy of expression in conversation and an honest and generous heart.

Luchet's political opinions aligned with those of Nadar, and the two men could be supposed to have much in common. It is thus somewhat surprising that Luchet stares suspiciously, awkwardly constrained in his pose. The overall effect of the portrait is intimate but far from flattering.