Portret van Georges Cuvier 1820 - 1828

Ambroise Tardieu created this print of Georges Cuvier using engraving techniques. Cuvier, a French naturalist and zoologist, is shown here in his formal attire complete with decorations and medals. The print offers a glimpse into the world of scientific and academic elites in 19th-century France, when the nation was experiencing political upheaval and scientific advancement. Cuvier held significant positions within the French academic establishment as a professor at the Collège de France and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. His image reflects the institutional and social frameworks that nurtured scientific research and contributed to the period's intellectual environment. The image's precise engraving reflects the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical observation and methodical knowledge production. In order to fully appreciate the historical importance of this artwork, one would need to examine sources from institutions like the Académie des Sciences and publications about Cuvier's theories. The print reminds us that art gains significance through its engagement with the social and institutional conditions of its creation.