Portret van Barthélémy Catherine Joubert 1838 - 1841

Nicolas André Monsiau made this print of Barthélémy Catherine Joubert, likely around 1799, using the technique of etching. This artwork depicts a French military figure, Joubert, during the revolutionary period. The image creates meaning through visual codes of military authority – his uniform, sword, and commanding gesture. France at the time had undergone a radical shift in social structure and political movement and this image reflects the rise of military figures who had become important during the war. The way in which he is depicted and what he is wearing, such as the plumes in his hat, is self-consciously progressive and new for a military portrait. Art historical research involves looking into the subject, the artist, and the social and institutional contexts in which they operated. Understanding art means understanding its role in a web of historical circumstances.