Jules Bordet was an art collector from Dijon. He appears here in a white shirt and pale linen jacket against a neutral background. While Courbet often portrayed women in contemplative reverie against lush landscapes, his male portraits are typically austere and sombre – the men have confidence in themselves and their social position. Bordet owned several works by Courbet. The relationship between the artist and his subject is also evident in the dedication on this painting: “To my friend J. Bordet”.