Portret van de Franse diplomaat François Barthélemy 1806

This engraving by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman depicts the French diplomat François Barthélemy. Without a date, it's hard to know exactly when it was made, but the artist was active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. The profile view, the elaborate wig, and the formal attire all speak to the sitter's status and position within the social hierarchy of his time. France, during the late 1700s, was on the cusp of revolution, but the old aristocratic codes still held sway in visual representation. Portman's print provides an interesting commentary on the social structures of its time. Was it made before the revolution as a celebration of Barthélemy's status? Or after, as a nostalgic look back at a lost world? The Rijksmuseum's archives may hold documents that shed light on the date and context. Understanding art requires close attention to these historical contexts.