[General Tomas Mejia, Emperor Maximilian, General Misamon] 1867

François Aubert created this mounted albumen print, titled *General Tomas Mejia, Emperor Maximilian, General Misamon*, sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph features three men central to the Second Mexican Empire, a period defined by French intervention and political turmoil. What does it mean to see them presented together in a singular frame? Aubert subtly stages an exploration of power, loyalty, and identity during a colonial project. On the left, General Mejía, an indigenous Mexican, whose inclusion speaks to the complex racial dynamics of the time. In the center stands Emperor Maximilian, the Austrian-born ruler, and on the right, General Miramón, a Mexican of European descent. This piece invites us to consider the human elements involved in the rise and fall of empires, reflecting on the personal stories embedded in grand historical narratives. In viewing these figures, we are confronted with questions of allegiance, ambition, and the legacies of colonial rule.