Mme Angelique Catalani de Valabregue 1829

Editor: This lithograph from 1829 by J.F. Møller, entitled "Mme Angelique Catalani de Valabregue", is quite striking. I'm immediately drawn to the subject’s extravagant feathered hat; it just dominates the image. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: The dominance of that hat is indeed a carefully constructed statement. Portraits like this weren't simply about capturing a likeness. They were deeply enmeshed in the social and political performance of status. The Romantic era saw a burgeoning middle class eager to emulate aristocratic styles. Editor: So the hat is about showing off? Curator: It’s about projecting an image of cultivated taste and elevated social standing in a society undergoing significant shifts in power. The very act of commissioning and displaying such a portrait was a deliberate public act. Who do you think the audience for this print would have been? Editor: Possibly other members of the middle class, aspiring to the same lifestyle? It's also interesting to consider the role of the artist here... Were they simply a hired hand, or did they have some agency in shaping this message? Curator: Excellent question! Artists like Møller walked a tightrope. They needed to satisfy the patron while also establishing their own artistic reputation. Notice how the crisp detail of the face contrasts with the softer rendering of the dress, and even softer still for the feathers: technique plays a huge part. Ultimately this print, produced and consumed within a specific socio-economic context, reveals much about the desires and aspirations of its time. Editor: I see now; it is far more than just a pretty portrait. Considering the social implications gives this image another interesting dimension. Curator: Indeed! Every element, from the choice of lithography to the flamboyant hat, carries meaning and reinforces existing and emerging social narratives.