Portret van Alexandre Dumeilet 1820 - 1821

This is a portrait of Alexandre Dumeilet, engraved by Ambroise Tardieu, and it offers a window into the visual and political culture of 19th-century France. The visual codes here are those of sober republicanism. Dumeilet, a deputy, is presented without the trappings of aristocracy, his dress and bearing suggesting civic responsibility rather than inherited privilege. This image was produced in 1816, a time of political turbulence following the Napoleonic era, and the work reflects the institutional structures of the French parliamentary system, which was still in its formative stages. The engraving subtly challenges the old social norms by presenting a figure of political authority in such modest terms. The lack of ostentation and emphasis on civic duty speak to the values of the emerging bourgeoisie. To truly understand this image, we need to consult sources on French political history, visual culture, and the biographies of figures like Dumeilet and Tardieu. Only then can we appreciate how this portrait contributes to the ongoing negotiation of power and identity in post-revolutionary France.