Portret van Lodewijk van Frankrijk 1680

Antoine Masson created this portrait of Louis of France, also known as le Grand Dauphin, in the late 17th century. Masson, as a leading engraver of his time, captured the grandeur and the cultural aesthetics of the French royal court under Louis XIV. This image provides a lens through which to examine the construction of identity and power through portraiture. The elaborate wig, the ornate lace collar, and the suggestion of rich fabrics speak to the performative aspects of monarchy. In this image, we see not just a man, but a carefully constructed representation of royal authority. The Dauphin’s gaze, slightly averted, suggests a remove, a distance befitting his status. Consider the role of fashion and adornment in signaling social status during this time, and how this portrait both reflects and reinforces those visual codes. The emotional distance in the portrait invites us to reflect on the personal and the political dimensions of royal representation.