Portret van Karel III, hertog van Parma 1852 - 1869

J.L. Lacoste made this print of Charles the Third, Duke of Parma, using lithography. The image is a fascinating window into the representation of power and authority in 19th-century Europe. Consider the cultural associations carried by the Duke’s military attire and the regal insignia displayed on his chest. These elements speak to the importance of dynastic rule and aristocratic privilege in the Duchy of Parma, then a small, but strategically significant, Italian state. Looking closely, we can see how the print creates meaning through visual codes. Lacoste's work reflects the artistic conventions and social hierarchies of its time. The medium of lithography itself suggests a democratizing impulse, making images more widely accessible. Historians use a variety of resources, from official documents to popular imagery, to understand the complex interplay between art, power, and society. Remember that the meaning of art is always shaped by its social and institutional context.