Portret van Napoleon I Bonaparte 1797

Charles Howard Hodges created this portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte using mezzotint, a printmaking process, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Napoleon, a figure whose rise from relative obscurity to Emperor of France was as swift as it was transformative, is presented here not as the military genius, but rather with an almost romantic softness. The artist, by employing the tonal range possible with the mezzotint technique, invites us to consider the complexities of identity. The way the light gently falls across Napoleon’s face softens his features, imbuing him with an accessibility that belies his position of power. Was Hodges, a British artist, attempting to humanize a political rival? Or perhaps capture something of the revolutionary spirit that first propelled Napoleon to prominence? The portrait leaves us to consider how public image and personal identity intersect, particularly during times of dramatic social upheaval. It reminds us of the intimate stories behind grand historical narratives.