Dubbelportret van Diana, hertogin Langeron en Albertina, markiezin Balleroi 1779 - 1829

Carl Hermann Pfeiffer made this print of Diana, Duchess of Langeron and Albertina, Marchioness Ballero in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The print gives us some clues about the representation of women in European society. The two women appear to be of high social status, suggested by their formal titles and elegant clothing, fitting with the social conventions of that time, when portraiture was used to convey status and lineage. This print would have served a social function, circulating the image of these women within a specific social sphere. The art market played a vital role in determining whose images were circulated and consumed. Investigating the archives of portrait studios, private collections, and periodical illustrations may reveal more about the place of this image within the structures of European society.