Portret van een man in uniform, aangeduid als Adolphe Lemoine 1862

Charles Billotte, a company active in France, made this photograph of a man in uniform, identified as Adolphe Lemoine. The carte-de-visite was a popular format for portraiture in the mid-19th century. The sitter’s military attire speaks to the socio-political climate of the time. France was undergoing significant transformations, including the rise of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. The military played a crucial role in maintaining order and projecting power, both domestically and internationally. Uniforms were carefully designed to convey authority, discipline, and national pride. As photography democratized portraiture, it also enabled wider circulation of idealized images of military figures, reinforcing their status. By studying such images alongside historical documents like military records, political cartoons, and personal correspondence, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between art, power, and social identity in 19th-century France.