Portret van Auguste Marie Henri Picot marquis de Dampierre c. 1792 - 1808

Lambertus Antonius Claessens created this print of Auguste Marie Henri Picot marquis de Dampierre using etching and engraving. Dampierre's identity as a nobleman and military figure is clearly communicated through his formal attire. The piece evokes the rigid class structures of pre-revolutionary France. Dampierre, as depicted, embodies the privileges and expectations associated with his social rank. Yet, it also presents an individual caught in the tumultuous currents of the late 18th century. Dampierre would later embrace the Revolution, even fighting for it, only to meet his end on the battlefield in 1793. Consider how Claessens' print captures a moment of transition. Dampierre's story is a reminder of the complex relationship between identity, allegiance, and historical change. What does it mean to see one's self as a member of a nation and a class?