Portret van Jean Reynier 1800 - 1834

This is Alois Senefelder’s lithographic portrait of Jean Reynier. Senefelder, a German actor and playwright, developed lithography in the 1790s, and this print testifies to the rapid dissemination of the process in the early 19th century. Prints had long served as propaganda, but Reynier was a General in Napoleon’s army, and this portrait would have circulated amidst the Napoleonic wars, a period when print production underwent industrialization. It's a reminder that institutional and technological forces shaped the modern media landscape. Reynier’s status is clear from his elaborate uniform, capturing the hierarchical nature of military life. Note that the print is inscribed “Le Genl. Reynier”, identifying him as a public figure. Prints like this one were collected and traded, forming a visual archive of modern celebrity. To understand this print better, we might examine military records and print archives. By attending to the historical context of an image, we appreciate how its meaning is tied to a particular time and place.