Portretten van Lodewijk Filips I en tien familieleden

Antoine Maurin created this print of Louis-Philippe, King of France, and ten members of his family using lithography. The composition, with its cloud-like framing, is interesting. It evokes the visual language of monarchy while at the same time attempting to modernize it. Made during Louis-Philippe's reign, the print served as a piece of political propaganda aimed at bolstering the image of the Orléanist monarchy. Louis-Philippe came to power following the July Revolution of 1830, promising a more liberal and bourgeois monarchy compared to his Bourbon predecessors. Yet, such imagery masked the underlying tensions within French society. While Louis-Philippe sought to present an image of familial harmony and stability, his reign was marked by social unrest and political division. To truly understand this print, we need to examine sources from the period, including newspapers, pamphlets, and political cartoons, to grasp the nuances of French society under Louis-Philippe. Only then can we fully appreciate the complex interplay between art, power, and social change.