Madame de Sévigné c. 1841s

This is Louis Lassalle’s ‘Madame de Sévigné’, a print at the Rijksmuseum. The artist uses the graphic medium to create a sense of texture, form, and detail. The composition creates a central focal point, guiding your eyes towards the figure of Madame de Sévigné. Note the artist’s use of line and shading, which defines the contours of the dress, the fall of the fabric, and the delicate features of the figure. The linear hatching and cross-hatching form a complex interplay of light and shadow, lending depth and volume to the image. Consider the semiotic elements within the print. The column and draped curtain might symbolize status. The chair becomes part of the symbolic language through which we decode the sitter’s social position. Through these codes, Lassalle communicates ideas about identity, representation, and social class. Art offers ongoing interpretations of the represented subject and their place in cultural and historical discourse.