Title Jean Antoine Houdon 

This is Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of Jean-Antoine Houdon. Peale, born in the American colonies, was part of a family of artists committed to documenting the figures of the American Revolution. Houdon was a renowned French neoclassical sculptor, known for his lifelike portrait busts and statues of prominent figures. In this image, Houdon's gaze carries a sense of self-assuredness, characteristic of a man who achieved fame and recognition in his own time. Yet, it’s impossible not to consider the complexities of representation during this period. Houdon sculpted busts of elites like George Washington. But he also made a sculpture of Robert Fulton, who is remembered for designing the first commercially successful steamboat, The North River Steamboat. The rise of industrial America was built on slavery and other forms of exploitation. The elegance and refinement of Houdon’s likeness serve as a reminder of the intertwined relationship between art, power, and social structures.