Francois Louis Veron Forbonnais of Duverger, economist 

This is a portrait of François Louis Véron Duverger de Forbonnais, the economist, by Maurice Quentin de la Tour. Here, we see the subject gazing calmly, his powdered wig and simple jacket speaking to the rational, enlightened age in which he lived. The wig itself is a potent symbol, a relic of ritualistic transformations. Think of the elaborate hairstyles of ancient Egypt, or the tonsured heads of monks, each a symbolic alteration of the self. The wig, too, transforms, concealing natural hair beneath an artificial construct. It speaks of status, of belonging to a certain class, much like the robes of a priest or the crown of a king. Consider, too, the subtle psychological implications. The wig, in its uniformity, suggests a desire for order, for control. It masks individuality, presenting a cultivated persona to the world. It's a carefully constructed image, an outward projection that belies the complexities within. It remains a powerful artifact, its cultural echo reverberating through centuries.