Portrait of an Officer 1789 - 1838

This ‘Portrait of an Officer’ was painted by Charles Pierre Cior, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, using watercolor on ivory. The smooth, reflective surface of the ivory support lends a delicate luminosity to the portrait. Think about the process: the artist would have meticulously applied thin washes of pigment, building up the image layer by layer. The precision required speaks to the skill and training involved in creating these intimate likenesses. Miniature portraits like this one were popular status symbols, and tokens of affection. The officer’s smart uniform, complete with elaborate braiding and epaulettes, speaks volumes about his position in society. The commissioning of such a portrait, would have been an act of self-conscious image-making, intended to project authority and taste. This small object is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward artworks are embedded with social meaning. It invites us to consider not just who is represented, but also the material choices, and the labor involved, that brought the image into being.