Portrait of Madame Roland 1793

This is Gilles Louis Chrétien's print of Madame Roland. Though undated, the inscription suggests it was made in Paris in 1793, the same year she was executed. Roland was a politically active writer and salonnière during the French Revolution. The print portrays Roland in profile, her hair elegantly styled, a simple dress suggesting republican virtues. While Chrétien aimed to capture her likeness through a physiognotrace, a mechanical portraiture method, Roland’s character emerges. She was known for her sharp intellect and passionate commitment to revolutionary ideals. As a woman deeply involved in the political discourse of her time, Roland navigated the complex terrain of gender and power. Her writings reflect on the tumultuous events of the revolution, offering a unique perspective of the era's struggles and betrayals. Roland faced accusations and imprisonment ultimately leading to her execution. "O Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name!" were reportedly her last words. This portrait, created during the height of the French Revolution, serves not only as a record of her appearance but also as a symbol of her intellectual and political engagement.