Portret van de Émile de Girardin, hoofdredacteur van La Presse 1848

This portrait of Émile de Girardin, editor-in-chief of La Presse, was made by Marie-Alexandre Alophe as a lithograph. Although undated, the print’s cultural references allow us to situate it in France sometime in the mid-19th century. Consider the cultural and institutional history of this time: The July Revolution of 1830 had ousted the Bourbon monarchy and ushered in a period of liberal reform, creating space for figures like de Girardin to shape public opinion through journalism. The presence of books in the background isn't accidental; it is there to enhance the intellectual gravitas of the sitter. De Girardin's confident pose speaks to the rising status of media figures during this period. To further understand the print's significance, we could consult archives of La Presse and other periodicals. Examining the institutional context, such as the relationship between the press and the state, would reveal more about the portrait's function as a cultural artifact.