Portret van ridder Stanislas de Boufflers 1825 - 1842

This is Nicolas Maurin's "Portret van ridder Stanislas de Boufflers", a print made during the height of the French Restoration period, likely created to celebrate or commemorate its subject, Stanislas de Boufflers. Boufflers was a prominent figure in pre-revolutionary French society, known for his wit, charm, and literary talent. But he was also a member of the aristocracy during a time of growing discontent among the common people. This portrait, with its formal composition and idealized representation, reflects the values and aspirations of the ruling class during the Restoration. Yet, it's impossible to ignore the complex social and political context in which it was created. The French Revolution sought to dismantle the privileges and inequalities that defined the old regime. This image of Boufflers invites us to consider the tensions between tradition and change, privilege and equality, that continue to shape our world today.