Portret van Childerik II 1829 - 1898

Auguste Thomas Marie Blanchard made this print of Childeric II sometime during the 19th century. It is a portrait of a king who ruled the Franks in the late 7th century. The image creates meaning through its visual codes and historical associations. Blanchard was French and he made this image during a time when France was grappling with its identity after the Revolution. The Revolution challenged the power of the monarchy and the aristocracy. Blanchard created this image at a time when people were questioning traditional social structures. The image is not explicitly conservative or progressive, but it can be seen as part of a larger conversation about the role of the monarchy in French society. To fully understand this image, one might consult historical texts, biographies, and other primary sources. By doing so, we can begin to understand the social conditions that shaped its production.