Zicht op het standbeeld van René I van Anjou en het kasteel van Angers 1853 - 1856

Léon Auguste Asselineau created this print of the statue of René I of Anjou and the Château d'Angers. The statue immortalizes René I, a figure who held considerable power and influence as the Duke of Anjou and King of Naples during the 15th century. During this period, power was centralized in the hands of the aristocracy. Kings and nobles frequently acted as patrons of the arts, commissioning works that reflected their status and power. Asselineau's print places the statue in the foreground, emphasizing its dominating presence and reinforcing traditional notions of authority. However, the image also offers a glimpse into the lives of the common people of Angers. The presence of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives in the shadow of the statue and castle suggests a complex relationship between those in power and those they governed. The expressions on their faces, though small, might hint at the mix of respect, indifference, or even resistance that these people felt towards the symbols of authority that surrounded them. The print, therefore, serves not only as a historical record but also as a reflection on power dynamics, cultural identity, and the lived experiences of individuals within a specific social and political context.