Portret van schrijver Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre 1822

Jean Pierre Sudre created this portrait of Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre sometime between 1783 and 1866, using etching on paper. Sudre captures Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, a writer and botanist known for his sentimental naturalism, at a moment of poised reflection. Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's writings often romanticized the idea of nature. He was also an advocate against the exploitation of enslaved people in colonial settings. This etching is a testament to the complicated ways in which art can intersect with both progressive and problematic ideals. Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's sentimental view of nature might be seen as a predecessor to environmental awareness, but we must also critique the colonial context within which he operated. While the image gives us a sense of the sitter's intellectualism, it invites us to consider the legacy of his ideas and their impact on the world.