Medaillon met portret van Étienne-François de Choiseul after 1828

This print by Achille Collas depicts a medallion with the portrait of Étienne-François de Choiseul. Collas lived in France during a time when traditional hierarchies were being questioned, and new social and political structures were emerging. This image makes meaning through its visual codes and historical associations. Medallions were often used to commemorate important figures, linking this artwork to the tradition of honoring individuals who held power and influence. Given its subject, it is likely that this medallion comments on the social structures of its own time by immortalizing a prominent member of the aristocracy. To understand this print better, historians might consult archival sources to uncover the context in which this image was made and circulated. They might also research the life and career of Étienne-François de Choiseul. Ultimately, art always reflects and shapes the society in which it exists.