Portret van Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult c. 1823 - 1850

This is Charles Billoin's portrait of Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult. It is held at the Rijksmuseum. Billoin, working in the 19th century, presents Soult in a manner befitting his status, yet there's a tension in the portrayal. Soult, a prominent figure in Napoleonic France, embodies the era's complex intersection of power, class, and identity. As a high-ranking military official, Soult benefited from a system deeply rooted in social hierarchies and colonial expansion. What does it mean to immortalize a figure whose legacy is intertwined with both national pride and the subjugation of others? Billoin's portrait doesn't shy away from the visual cues of authority, but perhaps invites us to consider the narratives that often go unacknowledged in such depictions: the stories of those whose lives were impacted by Soult's actions. This portrait offers a glimpse into the past, it also challenges us to reflect on how we represent and remember history.