A formal 1823 lithographic portrait of French politician Jacques Koechlin, captured by Auguste Toussaint Lecler during the Bourbon Restoration.

This lithographic portrait depicts Jacques Koechlin, a French politician who served as a deputy for the Haut-Rhin department. Executed by Auguste Toussaint Lecler in 1823, the work captures the subject in a formal bust-length pose. Koechlin is shown wearing a high-collared coat adorned with subtle fleur-de-lis embroidery, a detail that reflects the political climate of the Bourbon Restoration period in France.

Lecler employs a refined lithographic technique to render the textures of the subject's clothing and the soft modelling of his features. The shading around the face and neck provides a sense of volume, while the background remains largely unadorned to focus attention on the sitter. The artist's signature and the date are visible in the lower left, accompanied by a printed inscription identifying the subject and his political role. The print was produced by the workshop of Godefroy Engelmann, a pioneer of lithography in France who played a significant role in the popularisation of the medium during the early nineteenth century.

This portrait belongs to a tradition of political iconography where the likeness of a public figure was disseminated through affordable print media. The composition is balanced and restrained, adhering to the aesthetic conventions of the era. The focus remains on the individual's expression, which conveys a sense of gravity and professional purpose. As a historical document, the print offers insight into the visual representation of French parliamentary figures during the 1820s. The clarity of the lines and the controlled use of tone demonstrate the technical capabilities of early lithography, which allowed for a more nuanced approach to portraiture than earlier woodcut or engraving methods. This piece is a clear example of the intersection between political life and the burgeoning print industry in nineteenth-century Europe.