Portret van André Catel-Béghin, burgemeester van Lille van 1873 tot 1878 before 1883

This is a portrait of André Catel-Béghin, mayor of Lille from 1873 to 1878, by an artist known only as N.C.. It was created at an unknown date and is a photograph within a frame in a book. The image creates meaning through visual codes. It is included in a book titled ‘Le Nord Contemporain Revue Historique & Biographique’ which includes ‘Les Maires de Lille’. The frame is decorated with classical motifs and has the appearance of an official document. We are clearly meant to see Catel-Béghin as an important historical figure. France in the 1870s was a time of political uncertainty as the country struggled to establish a stable republic after the Franco-Prussian War. Lille, as a major industrial center, was at the heart of these changes. The creation of biographical and historical records was part of the process of establishing and reinforcing the identity of important members of the bourgeoisie. To understand this image better, we could consult archives of local government to confirm details of Catel-Béghin's life and career.