Scheiding van Napoleon en Joséphine 1840 - 1905

François de Meersman created this print of the Separation of Napoleon and Josephine, sometime in the 19th century. The image captures a pivotal moment in French history when Napoleon Bonaparte divorced his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, in order to secure an heir to the French empire. De Meersman’s print offers a glimpse into the political and social structures of 19th-century France. Napoleon's divorce was not merely a personal matter but a strategic decision driven by the desire for dynastic continuity, and as such, this was an important institutional moment. Notice the opulence of the setting, the formality of the ceremony, and the solemnity of the figures involved. These visual cues reinforce the gravity of the event and highlight the political context of the time. By studying court records, personal correspondence, and political treatises, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of Napoleon's reign and its impact on French society.