Ruiterportret 1733

This is Laurent Cars's Ruiterportret, a print made in France sometime in the 18th century. This formal equestrian portrait speaks to the power of imagery in upholding social hierarchies. The setting, likely a French garden, is designed to aggrandize Monsieur de Kraut. Note the classical column, an architectural device used to legitimize power by alluding to the grandeur of ancient empires. The horse is also key to understanding this image; it is well-groomed and muscular, connoting wealth and status. Monsieur de Kraut holds the reins loosely, indicating his mastery over the animal and, by extension, those of a lower social class. As art historians, we can look to sources such as estate inventories and fashion plates to learn more about the sitter and the artist, shedding light on the social and institutional contexts that shaped this print. This helps us to understand how art both reflected and reinforced the social norms of its time.