Portret van Clémence Isaure 1825 - 1827

Nicolas Henri Jacob created this print, titled 'Portret van Clémence Isaure,' sometime between 1782 and 1871. The image depicts Clémence Isaure, who, according to local legend, bequeathed her wealth to found the Académie des Jeux Floraux, a literary society in Toulouse. Though Isaure has been depicted as the founder and benefactor of the academy, her existence is debated among historians, making her something of a contested figure. This representation of Isaure invites us to consider how women's contributions to arts and culture are remembered, mythologized, or even erased from historical narratives. The portrait provides insight into the construction of historical memory and the gendered dynamics of commemoration. Consider how this image, while celebrating a woman, also complicates our understanding of women's roles in history.