Portret van Antoine François Prévost c. 1771

Thérèse Devaux created this portrait of Antoine François Prévost using etching techniques. The portrait captures a man of the cloth, yet also a celebrated novelist of the 18th century. Prevost's most famous work, *Manon Lescaut,* was controversial for its sympathetic portrayal of a morally ambiguous woman. One can only imagine the challenges Devaux faced as a woman artist during this period. Her decision to portray a figure like Prevost reflects a certain engagement with the intellectual and cultural debates of the time. The portrait, with its classical overtones, gives the sense of a society grappling with questions of faith, morality, and individual freedom. Devaux's work invites us to consider the complexities of identity, and the courage required to challenge societal norms.