Portret van Henri-Marie Ducrotay de Blainville 1850

Curator: This is a portrait of Henri-Marie Ducrotay de Blainville by Alphonse Farcy, made in 1850. It is a pencil drawing on paper. Editor: My initial reaction? Melancholy. There's a stillness in his eyes, a weight that seems to be pulling down the corners of his mouth. Even the pencil strokes appear deliberate, almost somber. Curator: Portraits like this often served to memorialize figures of significance, reflecting their status within society. Blainville, a noted zoologist and anatomist, would certainly have been considered such a figure. The formal attire further emphasizes this sense of decorum. Editor: The stark contrast of light and shadow adds to that somber feeling. The light catches the high points, the forehead and nose, highlighting his intellectual presence perhaps, while the shadows carve deep lines into his face. But what symbols are layered into this depiction? What's the deeper visual language at play here? Curator: The era and style leans toward Realism and Academic art. Symbols would be quite straightforward, not shrouded in abstraction, but it shows the commitment to scientific observation. It reflected a desire for accuracy and truth, avoiding romantic idealization in favor of a more objective portrayal. This man *was*. Editor: Interesting. The focus on pure likeness over adornment signals, perhaps, the burgeoning scientific values of the time. No longer the need for symbolic regalia to mark importance; the man’s face itself becomes a map of his intellect and achievements. I wonder, what audience was intended? Did prints circulate amongst intellectual circles, reinforcing a sense of shared purpose and identity? Curator: I imagine the portrait serving multiple purposes: personal commemoration, displays of civic pride within institutions of learning, or engravings in scholarly publications to attach a face to important names in science. This blending of public image and private remembrance is powerful. Editor: It is fascinating how even seemingly straightforward realism is layered with cultural intention and symbolic choices. Thanks, Alphonse Farcy, for making us pause. Curator: Yes, thank you, Farcy, for inviting us into this historical encounter with a prominent zoologist—the picture remains, even though Blainville himself is long gone.