Portret van Lambert de Thorigny 1698

Pierre Drevet created this portrait of Lambert de Thorigny using engraving techniques. Born in the 17th century, Drevet’s work reflects the rigid social structures of the French court. Here, we see Lambert, a man of status, adorned in the garb of his office, his gaze confident. The artwork testifies to the importance of lineage and power within the French aristocracy. Yet, the print also engages with the performance of identity. Lambert’s attire, the carefully arranged wig, and the symbolic objects are all part of constructing and communicating his social standing. What does it mean to have your identity so closely tied to your social role? How might Lambert’s self-perception have been shaped by these external markers of status? While such portraits often appear as straightforward representations of the elite, they simultaneously reveal the complexities of identity and the ways it is both embodied and performed within specific historical contexts.