Portret van Joseph Chalier 1793

Angélique Briceau made this print of Joseph Chalier around 1793. It presents us with a window into the visual culture of the French Revolution, a moment of radical social and political upheaval. Chalier was a revolutionary figure, and President of the District of Lyon. Briceau’s print isn't just a portrait, it’s a political statement. Note the tricolor cockade, a clear symbol of revolutionary allegiance, which is set against the Neoclassical oval frame that gives the print a sense of classical authority. The inscription beneath the image, a declaration of devotion to the patriots and hatred of the brigands, shows us that this portrait has a clear political agenda. The print can be seen as an example of the art of the revolution, with the artist actively participating in the construction of revolutionary identity. To understand this print better, one would have to delve into the archives of the French Revolution, examining pamphlets, newspapers, and other visual materials from the period.