Portret van Hendrik IV van Frankrijk 1828

Zéphirin Belliard rendered this print of Hendrik IV of France, using lithography. Born into a society still grappling with the aftermath of the French Revolution, Belliard here engages with the visual rhetoric of power. This portrait participates in the construction of historical memory and national identity. The image of Hendrik IV is carefully curated to evoke a sense of authority and legitimacy. The choice of lithography, a relatively new medium at the time, suggests a desire for wider distribution and accessibility. In a time of shifting social hierarchies, images of leadership had the ability to shape public opinion and reinforce established power structures. The portrait of Hendrik IV is more than a depiction of an individual; it reflects the complex interplay of history, identity, and political power in 19th-century France. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which the past continues to inform the present.