Portret van Joseph Rullier c. 1749 - 1799

Jacques Le Roy created this print of Joseph Rullier, a man purported to be 106 years old, sometime in the 18th century. The portrait is framed by text attesting to Rullier's remarkable health and longevity. The historical context of the late 1700s was a time of enlightenment and scientific curiosity. The detailed description of Rullier's physical condition—his clear eyesight, steady gait, and lack of medical interventions—reflects a culture grappling with ideas about aging, health, and the body. This portrait challenges conventional representations of aging, presenting Rullier not as feeble, but as a figure of vitality and intellectual capacity. The print offers a glimpse into the life and identity of an ordinary man elevated by his age to a subject of public interest. It invites us to reflect on the societal values placed on youth and beauty versus the wisdom and resilience that come with age, and on the complex interplay between personal identity and cultural perceptions of aging.