Portret van Charles Henri de Lorraine-Vaudemont 1694 - 1755

This is Nicolas de Larmessin’s portrait print of Charles Henri de Lorraine-Vaudemont, made in France sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is a study in power, carefully constructed to convey the sitter’s aristocratic status. Consider the visual cues: Lorraine-Vaudemont is shown in armour, a symbol of military might and noble rank, his gaze direct and assured. Note the elaborate wig, a fashionable marker of status in the French court. The landscape in the background, complete with soldiers, reinforces his authority and connection to the land and military power. Larmessin was part of a family of printmakers who were official portraitists to the French Royal court. This print exists as part of an institutional network, creating and circulating images of the court and aristocracy to reinforce hierarchy. Understanding this image fully requires understanding the social structures and institutions that shaped its creation. Researching the House of Lorraine, the role of portraiture in the French court, and the Larmessin family printmaking business will open further avenues of interpretation.