Portret van Pierre André de Suffren de Saint-Tropez 1818 - 1918

Jean Charles Pardinel created this print of Pierre André de Suffren de Saint-Tropez, a French admiral, sometime between 1808 and 1908. The print, with its formal composition and focus on a single male figure, is a window into the gendered power structures of its era. Consider the weight of representation here. Suffren, in his elaborate naval attire, embodies authority and control. His stance, the trappings of wealth, all speak to the construction of masculine identity through military prowess and social standing. Pardinel's work raises questions about the narratives that are valorized in art and the voices that are often excluded. It invites a discussion of how gender, class, and power intersect in the visual arts. This print isn't just a historical record; it's a reminder of the stories we tell about ourselves and the values we uphold. It reflects the emotional and personal dimensions of identity, both for the subject and the viewer, urging us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left in the shadows.