Portret van Alphonse de Lamartine 1848 - 1849

Nicolas Maurin created this portrait of Alphonse de Lamartine with lithography. The composition features a central figure, Lamartine, whose gaze meets ours directly, creating an immediate connection. Maurin's use of hatching and cross-hatching to model the figure’s form draws attention to the texture of his coat. In semiotic terms, the formal attire signals Lamartine's status and societal role, while the lithographic technique, with its reproducible nature, democratizes his image, aligning with the revolutionary spirit of the time. The sharp contrast between light and shadow not only models the figure but also imbues the portrait with a sense of drama. Consider how Maurin's lithograph flattens the three-dimensional form into a two-dimensional image, challenging traditional notions of representation and inviting us to reconsider the relationship between reality and its depiction. Art, after all, is not a mirror but a lens.