Portret van Vincent Voiture 1778 - 1787

François Robert Ingouf created this print of Vincent Voiture, though the date of its creation is unknown. The portrait is set within an oval frame and placed atop a small plinth. This sort of formal portraiture was commonplace in France at the time and served as a means of preserving and disseminating the image of notable figures. Voiture was a writer and poet, a member of the Académie Française, an institution which sought to standardize and control the French language. What makes this image interesting is the way it reveals the social function of portraiture as a tool for constructing and maintaining cultural authority. The print elevates Voiture to a position of respect. To understand the full significance of this print, we can consult archival materials, such as letters and manuscripts, to gain insight into Voiture's life and work and how they were received by his contemporaries. By examining the social and institutional context, we can better understand the cultural work this image performs.