Portret van Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse 1836

This is Antoine Maurin’s portrait of Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse. Made with lithography, it offers a glimpse into the visual culture of 19th-century France. Born during the French Revolution, Maurin navigated a society undergoing radical transformations. His art reflects the changing social structures of the time, particularly through his detailed depictions of individuals like Lacrosse, whose military attire speaks to the era's focus on authority and order. While Maurin worked in the traditional form of portraiture, his images give us an entry point to analyze the power dynamics embedded in representation. Here, class and status are visualized through the sitter’s uniform. Maurin's lithograph invites us to reflect on the stories and power structures that portraits like this both conceal and reveal.