Portret van de Franse filosoof Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, markies de Condorcet 1804

Ludwig Gottlieb Portman made this print of the French philosopher Marquis de Condorcet. This image of Condorcet provides a glimpse into the world of Enlightenment intellectualism and its fraught relationship to the French Revolution. Condorcet was a mathematician and philosopher, but also a political figure who advocated for liberal reforms. Portman, who was born after the start of the French Revolution, was a German printmaker who worked in the neo-classical style. This portrait is emblematic of the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and progress. At the same time, it's important to remember that Condorcet was eventually arrested and died in prison during the Reign of Terror. Understanding this image requires us to consider the complex social and political context in which it was produced, using historical sources, letters, and other documents to get a fuller picture. Only then can we grasp the true significance of art as a product of its time.