Portret van Jacques Pierre Brissot 1795 - 1805

This portrait of Jacques Pierre Brissot, made by N. F. Maviez, is an engraving on paper, a process involving meticulous labor. The artist would have used tools to cut lines into a metal plate, which would then be inked and printed, transferring the image onto the page. The very nature of engraving, with its reliance on the precise, repeatable mark, resonates with the revolutionary spirit of the era. Brissot, a prominent figure in the French Revolution, is captured through a medium that embodies the values of precision and dissemination, echoing the revolution's ideals of reason and widespread distribution of knowledge. The choice of engraving speaks to the social context of the time. It allowed for mass production and distribution of images, making Brissot's likeness accessible to a broad audience and reinforcing his presence in the public sphere. Understanding the material and the making allows us to appreciate its broader cultural meaning, and question traditional assumptions about art.