 Given the standings of the two men , the painting was received in both social and political terms . A number of writers mentioned Bertin 's eventful career , in tones that were , according to art historian Andrew Carrington Shelton , either " <unk> sarcastic [ or ] <unk> <unk> " . There were many satirical reproductions and pointed <unk> in the following years . Aware of Bertin 's support of the July Monarchy , writers at the La Gazette de France viewed the portrait as the <unk> of the " <unk> and cynicism " of the new regime . Their anonymous critic <unk> wondered " what bitter irony it expresses , what hardened skepticism , sarcasm and ... pronounced cynicism " . 
