Ruiterportret van Filips II van Orléans 1691 - 1767

Nicolas Etienne Edelinck created this portrait print of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, sometime between 1681 and 1767. Edelinck, born into a family of engravers, produced art during a period of significant social hierarchy and aristocratic power in France. This portrait captures the Duke, a prominent figure of French nobility, on horseback, embodying power, authority, and masculinity. The Duke’s regalia and the rearing horse signal a narrative of dominance deeply rooted in the gender and class structures of the time. The Duke holds a baton, which is a symbol of command, while in the background, there are images of conflict and resolution, suggesting his involvement in military or political events. Consider the way the image projects a carefully constructed identity of leadership. The artwork, while celebrating a powerful individual, also subtly reveals the disparities inherent in a society where identity and status were largely determined by birthright and gender. It invites us to reflect on the values and structures that underpinned the world of 17th and 18th century France.