Portret van Dominique Pitrot als Don Mendoze in de vaudeville La Parisienne en Espagne 1823

Alexandre-Marie Colin created this print of Dominique Pitrot in costume, sometime in the 19th century. The composition is dominated by Pitrot himself, standing in elaborate period attire, the image is rendered in precise detail, inviting us to examine the texture and form of his garments. The patterned fabric of his breeches and the feathered hat draw the eye, but consider the structural choices at play here. The figure is positioned against a backdrop of architectural and natural elements, yet these are rendered with a lighter touch. This contrast throws the main subject forward, highlighting the theatrical artifice of Pitrot's character. What is particularly intriguing is how Colin uses the medium of printmaking to capture the ephemeral nature of performance. Pitrot is framed not just as an individual but as a signifier within a larger cultural narrative. Colin captures a moment, solidifying it, and offering it up for analysis. The image invites us to consider how identity is constructed and performed.