The Letter "T" from Le Miroir des Dames, ou nouvel alphabet français 1834

Henri Grevedon created this lithograph titled "The Letter 'T'" as part of "Le Miroir des Dames, ou nouvel alphabet français." The composition centres on a young woman, rendered with a delicate balance of line and shadow. Notice how Grevedon uses soft, gradated tones to model her features, creating a sense of depth and volume. The texture of her dress, with its voluminous sleeves, contrasts with the smoother rendering of her skin, drawing our attention to the material qualities of the image itself. Consider how the letter "T," subtly integrated at the bottom, acts as both a formal element and a signifier. This interplay between text and image invites us to decode the underlying structure of representation. How does Grevedon’s work challenge the fixed meanings of both portraiture and the alphabet? Ultimately, the lithograph’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to function as both a portrait and a semiotic puzzle, demonstrating how art destabilizes established categories.