Portret van Jean Le Fevre, seigneur de Caumartin c. 1670 - 1718

This engraving depicts Jean Le Fevre de Caumartin, made by Louis Boudan. It offers us a glimpse into the visual culture and social hierarchies of its time. Portraits like this served to immortalize and assert the status of individuals within the French aristocracy. De Caumartin's identity is carefully constructed through visual cues—his elaborate ruff, tailored doublet, and the heraldic crest below speak to his noble lineage and position as a royal advisor and financier. Boudan’s craftsmanship not only captures de Caumartin's likeness but also conveys a sense of dignity and authority, reinforcing the values of the ruling class. While portraits often celebrated the individual, they also reveal the constraints and expectations placed upon them by society. The formality of the pose, the meticulous detail in the clothing, these are all markers of a world in which identity was closely tied to social role. We can imagine de Caumartin gazing back at us across the centuries, a figure both powerful and bound by the conventions of his time.