Portret van Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon 1796 - 1840

This engraving by Adrien Migneret captures the likeness of Georges-Louis Leclerc, the Comte de Buffon. Though undated, its creation reflects the societal reverence for enlightenment figures in late 18th-century France. Buffon, a celebrated naturalist, mathematician, and cosmologist, is presented here as a man of science, yet also a man of the aristocracy. The soft rendering of his features and elegant attire speak to his elite status. He was a member of the French Academy of Sciences and his work touched on themes of natural history. Buffon once stated, "The style is the man himself", emphasizing the intimate connection between expression and identity. The engraving is of a celebrated white, male scientist during the Enlightenment, a period marked by scientific advancement but also rigid social hierarchies and inequalities. As we consider this image, let's ask ourselves who was included and excluded from the Enlightenment's promise of progress. This image is more than just a portrait, it's a lens through which to view the complex intersections of class, knowledge, and power in 18th century Europe.