Portret van Françoise-Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, hertogin van La Vallière 1667 - 1674

This is a portrait of Françoise-Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, the Duchess of La Vallière, made by Nicolas de Larmessin the First. It is an engraving. The image of the Duchess is framed by indicators of her wealth and social standing, but what does this public display really mean? France in this period was deeply stratified. Aristocrats wielded considerable power, but their status was also performative. They were expected to act and dress in ways that reinforced social hierarchies. This portrait subtly reinforces the power structures of the time, but also highlights the role of the artist as a skilled professional whose work gave visibility to the aristocratic class. To fully understand this work, we can research the history of the French aristocracy and the role of portraiture in shaping public perception. We can also study the history of printmaking and the ways in which images were disseminated and consumed in 17th-century Europe. Through this kind of research, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and cultural forces that shaped the creation and reception of this artwork.