Portret van Pierre François Charles Augereau, hertog van Castiglione 1825 - 1842

This is Nicolas Maurin’s lithographic portrait of Pierre François Charles Augereau. The composition presents a figure emerging from a muted background, focusing our attention on the texture and details of his military attire. The artist uses line and shading to define Augereau’s features and the elaborate decorations on his uniform. Note how Maurin captures the weight and texture of the epaulettes and medals, creating a visual language of status and authority. Semiotically, each of these elements acts as a signifier of Augereau's rank and accomplishments, embedding him within a social hierarchy. The lithographic technique itself lends a certain flatness, challenging the illusionism typical of earlier portraiture. Instead, Maurin highlights the graphic qualities of the medium. The strategic use of light and shadow not only models the figure but also creates a symbolic space where power is represented through carefully constructed visual codes. The portrait serves as an exploration of how symbols operate within cultural contexts.