Portret van Charrié 1818 - 1832

Charles Aimé Forestier created this portrait of Charrié using aquatint. Forestier lived through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, witnessing radical shifts in French society and politics. His work captures the aesthetics and social values of the French Restoration period, a time of rebuilding and re-evaluating French identity after years of conflict. This print offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the French middle class. The portrait's formality speaks to the sitter's social standing, while its intimate scale suggests a personal connection between the artist and the sitter. The meticulous detail of the aquatint technique reflects the premium placed on precision and craftsmanship in portraiture. This work presents the sitter according to the social norms of the time. It makes you wonder, what does it mean to look back at images like this? It is important to reflect on the stories these images tell and the voices they leave out.