Portret van Jean-François Jacqueminot 1835

This print portrays Jean-François Jacqueminot and was made by Antoine Maurin, a 19th-century French artist known for his lithographs. Jacqueminot, a French general and politician, is depicted here wearing a military uniform adorned with medals. The emphasis on his official dress and decorations tells us about the values of the society and the importance attached to military service and status. It’s interesting to consider the politics of imagery here: how do such portraits shape public opinion, and what role do they play in constructing a national identity? To understand this print fully, we might delve into the history of the French military, its role in shaping French society, and its relationship with the institutions of art. We could investigate the ways in which military figures were presented to the public, the political motivations behind these presentations, and the messages they conveyed about power and authority.