Portret van Joséphine de Beauharnais 1838 - 1839

Tony Goutière created this print, ‘Portret van Joséphine de Beauharnais,’ using etching and engraving techniques sometime in the mid-19th century. Note how Goutière employed an oval format to frame the bust of Joséphine. This shape concentrates our focus, setting her apart within the otherwise empty space. The fine lines of the engraving create subtle gradations in tone, giving depth to Joséphine's features and clothing. Her ornate attire contrasts with the stark background, emphasizing her status. The textures, from the soft fur trim to the detailed jewelry, add layers of visual information. Goutière skillfully uses light and shadow to model Joséphine’s face, giving it a lifelike presence. The print operates within a semiotic system of signs: jewelry, clothing, and hairstyle all denote social standing and femininity. Goutière’s composition invites us to decode these visual symbols and consider how they function within the broader cultural context of 19th-century portraiture. In its time, the print might have challenged fixed notions of representation through its technical precision and attention to detail. Today, it stands as a fascinating example of how art intersects with identity and representation.