Helm van koning Hendrik II van Frankrijk c. 1876 - 1883

This photograph of King Henry II of France's helmet was made by Léon Vidal in the 19th century. It reflects the 19th-century interest in the paraphernalia of dead monarchs. The photograph is part of a series of images that reproduce the collection of the Louvre museum. Photography was key to making the collection available to a wider public through mass reproduction. In the 19th century, the Louvre was still understood as an extension of royal power, rather than a truly public museum. The helmet, though, represents a very different order of power than photography and mass media. It suggests the power of the armored knight, of hand-to-hand combat. Notice its rich decoration. This was not merely a practical object but a representation of power. To understand this image better, we might research the Louvre's collection and the politics of its display in the 19th century. We should remember that the meaning of art objects shifts according to their context.