Chevalier d'Eon 1771

Thomas Burke created this mezzotint of the Chevalier d’Eon in 1777. Born Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont, d'Eon lived an extraordinary life marked by espionage, diplomacy, and military service, but is best known for living publicly as a woman later in life. D’Eon’s ambiguous gender expression challenged the rigid gender norms of the 18th century. In this portrait, we see d’Eon in military attire, an established signifier of masculinity. This image solidified d’Eon's public persona as a celebrated, masculine war hero. D’Eon’s story, one of identity, performance, and societal expectations, remains incredibly relevant today. What does it mean to authentically express oneself when constrained by social norms? D’Eon's life and image invite us to consider the complexities of gender and identity, asking us to reflect on how we perceive and represent ourselves and others.