Portret van Marie Jacqueline Levesque als Milady Adermale in het melodrama Le Remords 1823 - 1824

Editor: This is a lithograph from 1823-24 by Alexandre-Marie Colin, called "Portret van Marie Jacqueline Levesque als Milady Adermale in het melodrama Le Remords" -- which is quite a mouthful! I am struck by the elegance of the woman. It looks like a portrait taken straight out of a play. What can you tell me about this image? Curator: Ah, yes, elegance indeed! This is Marie Levesque depicted in character. What intrigues me is the theatre context captured in print. A slice of the Romantic era caught between history painting and… well, celebrity culture! Do you see how the artist has positioned her? It is very interesting; almost as if she is on stage. Notice the detail in the embroidery, the subtle backdrop. What does it suggest to you? Editor: That's a great point about the celebrity aspect. It’s almost like a playbill. The detail makes her seem very important, or at least like she wanted to be perceived as very important! Curator: Exactly! This image is so evocative of a specific time, but it still holds a mirror to our own culture. It makes one wonder, what narratives were they enacting on stage, and how does it differ from what is shown now? The yearning to embody greatness remains constant. What do you take away from this piece? Editor: For me, it’s fascinating to see how theatrical performance was promoted. It gives me a glimpse into how people perceived their identities back then. Thanks so much for that insightful reading! Curator: My pleasure, it is interesting how different people have different connections with this print!