Portret van de staatsman Louis-Mathieu Molé 1838

This portrait of Louis-Mathieu Molé was made by Zéphirin Belliard, though the exact date is unknown. Molé was a prominent French statesman during a turbulent period in French history, serving under various regimes, from Napoleon to the July Monarchy. This lithograph print gives us insight into the visual culture of 19th-century France, where portraiture was crucial for constructing and disseminating images of political authority. Lithography allowed for relatively inexpensive reproduction of images, making them more accessible to a wider public. The image presents Molé as a respectable and composed figure, reinforcing his status as a leader. To understand this image fully, we'd need to delve into the visual and political culture of Restoration and post-Revolutionary France. Biographical accounts, political pamphlets, and studies of French visual culture would all provide valuable insights. Ultimately, this portrait isn't just an image of an individual, but also a window into the social and political structures of its time.