Portret van Gabriel Andral 1835 - 1851

This is a lithograph of Gabriel Andral by Nicolas Maurin. In nineteenth-century France, the rise of the bourgeoisie created a demand for portraiture that extended beyond the aristocracy. Lithography, with its relative affordability, democratized image production. This portrait of Andral, a prominent physician, embodies the values of the rising professional class. Note his direct gaze, projecting an aura of competence. His dark suit signifies seriousness and respectability. The deliberate composition and attention to detail elevates Andral to a position of social authority. Maurin's work thus illuminates the social function of art. He captures the image of a professional class keen to establish its status, reflecting a society undergoing rapid transformation. We can understand this artwork better through researching the careers of both Andral and Maurin, and by studying the social and economic conditions in France at that time.