Portret van Theodor de Bry c. 1881 - 1884

Adolphe Varin made this print of Theodor de Bry using etching and chalgography. The image captures the formality of portraiture while also pointing to the growing importance of printmaking in disseminating knowledge and shaping perceptions of historical figures. Consider the context in which this print was made: France in the mid-19th century, a time of burgeoning historical interest and nationalism. De Bry, a 16th-century engraver known for his illustrated books on exploration and colonization, was an important figure in the history of European expansion. Varin’s portrait thus becomes part of a larger cultural project of constructing a national identity and celebrating historical figures who contributed to the nation's story. The print itself doesn't challenge the institutions of its own time, but the choice of subject and the medium through which the image is constructed points to the social and institutional importance of the history of art. Understanding this requires a deep dive into archives, libraries, and museums, to understand how institutions shape our understanding of the past.