Portret van Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l'Espinoy 1828 - 1838

Antoine Maurin created this print of Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l'Espinoy using lithography, a technique that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Maurin, who lived through the tumultuous years of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, would have been acutely aware of the power of images to shape public perception and memorialize individuals. This portrait exists within a tradition of representing figures of authority and influence. The print captures de l'Espinoy with a gravitas befitting a man of his standing. Yet, lithography as a medium allows for a certain softness and accessibility, hinting at a shift in how power was being portrayed and perceived in the 19th century. Consider how Maurin negotiates the space between the personal and the public, the individual and the societal role. Through this work, we are reminded that portraiture is not just about capturing a likeness, but about constructing and communicating identity within a specific cultural and historical context.