Zicht op de Austerlitz-zuil op de Place Vendôme in Parijs 1820

Jean-Baptiste Arnout produced this print of the Austerlitz column in the Place Vendôme in Paris. The column was erected between 1806 and 1810 at Napoleon's request to commemorate the battle of Austerlitz. It was inspired by Trajan's Column in Rome, and intended to evoke the grandeur of the Roman Empire and connect Napoleon's rule to this imperial past. The column’s location, in the Place Vendôme, a square surrounded by grand buildings that housed luxury shops and embassies, further emphasized its association with power and prestige. The print’s social context is closely tied to the political climate of early 19th-century France, a time of both revolutionary upheaval and imperial ambition. Research into popular imagery of the period can reveal more about the politics of representation and social conditions that shape artistic production. These kinds of resources help us to understand this print as a cultural artifact, reflecting the values and aspirations of its time.