Napoleon staat met zijn arm om een vrouwelijke personificatie en onvangt een rol van een man 1808

Teodoro Matteini created this print depicting Napoleon, a woman, and another man. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, political prints were a popular medium for shaping public opinion. Here, Matteini uses classical imagery to legitimize Napoleon’s reign. The scene evokes a sense of ceremony, as Napoleon receives a scroll, possibly representing law or decree, while standing with a female figure who could be an allegorical representation of France. The image presents Napoleon as a ruler who receives his power through agreement and law, rather than by force. However, what does it mean to have a male artist represent Napoleon in this way? Consider the power dynamics between the figures. The woman is there as a symbol, while the men exchange power. Matteini’s image speaks to a moment of political transition, but also to enduring questions of power, gender, and representation.