Portret van Antoine Laurent Lavoisier 1818 - 1832

This is Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger's portrait of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier. Though the exact date is unknown, it gives us a glimpse into the life of a prominent figure during a tumultuous period in French history. Lavoisier was a chemist and nobleman, guillotined during the French Revolution. This portrait, rendered in delicate lines, presents Lavoisier in a manner befitting his status. Yet, it is impossible to view this image without the knowledge of his tragic fate. Aristocrats were targeted during the Reign of Terror: class distinctions became a matter of life and death. Consider the emotional weight of portraying a man of science against the backdrop of political upheaval. It makes us question the cost of progress and the fragility of human life. It challenges us to reflect on how society values knowledge and justice, then and now.