Portret van de politicus Guillaume-Xavier Labbey de Pompières 1827

Alexandre Cheyère created this portrait of Guillaume-Xavier Labbey de Pompières through engraving and etching, a process that allows for detailed and reproducible images. Although the exact date is unknown, the work captures a politician who lived through the tumultuous periods of the French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic era. Engravings such as this served as vital tools for disseminating images of power and influence. In a society undergoing radical transformation, visibility was paramount for political figures. This portrait not only immortalizes Labbey de Pompières but also presents a carefully constructed image of authority and intellect. His stern gaze and formal attire project an aura of statesmanship, designed to inspire confidence during times of uncertainty. What does it mean to create an image of a politician? How does that person wish to be remembered, both visually and in the historical record? This portrait invites us to consider the relationship between image, power, and identity in a revolutionary age.