Portret van Charles Gounod before 1883

This undated portrait of Charles Gounod is a print made by Ferdinand Mulnier, a French artist who died very young. The portrait is part of a larger printed page of "Camees Artistiques," a journal covering theatre, literature, music, fine arts, sports, and finance. Consider the significance of memorializing artists, particularly through printed media in the late 19th century. This was a time of significant cultural shifts, where the rise of mass media allowed for broader dissemination of images and ideas. How did printed portraits like this contribute to shaping public perceptions of artists such as Gounod, who composed classical music? This portrait serves not only as a record, but also as a cultural artifact. It reflects the values and priorities of its time, asking us to consider the role of media in constructing fame. It also asks us to reflect on how we remember cultural figures of the past.