Macron, le grand narcissist: From Putin-style topless holiday shots to Raging ... trends now In an age of social media where every flex and flicker is meticulously curated, Emmanuel Macron appears committed to perfecting the art of visual rhetoric. His personal photographer Soazing de la Moissonnière caused quite a stir in France earlier this week when he released two images depicting the French President pounding a punchbag. With his face a picture of steely resolve as chiselled biceps rippled from beneath his shirt, the black-and-white shots of Macron were received as a display of 'ultimate virility' according to French newspaper Nice-Matin. Many posited that the projection of machismo and strength comes as part of a PR offensive as the French President takes a harder stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, with Macron having paused longstanding efforts to maintain a closer bond with his counterpart in Moscow Vladimir Putin. But in reality, Macron's pugilistic photo-op is just the latest in a years-long campaign of staged shoots designed to portray the Elysee Palace chief as a dashing, capable and admirable representative of France and her interests. It's a self-aggrandising PR play that appears to have been ripped directly from the playbook of Putin himself - perhaps the world leader most adept at deploying the power of persona to cultivate domestic support. Now, MailOnline takes a look at some of Macron's most narcissistic snaps, distributed by his personal lensman and army of press officers, and how they're harnessed to cultivate his image in the eyes of the French public. In an age of social media where every flex and flicker is meticulously curated, Emmanuel Macron appears committed to perfecting the art of visual rhetoric Macron's personal photographer Soazing de la Moissonnière caused quite a stir in France earlier this week when he released two images depicting the French President pounding a punchbag French media relations expert Gaspard Gantzer said his president wants to show that 'he wants to fight' Macron's pugilistic photo-op is just the latest in a years-long campaign of staged shoots designed to portray the Elysee Palace chief as a dashing, capable and admirable representative of France But Macron's PR drive seeks to portray the Head of State as the complete package Macron pets a dog as he sits at his desk in the Elysee Palace An image of Macron wearing a drab hoody emerged in the days following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, leading many to suggest the French President was modelling his looks on the then-lauded Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky French President Emmanuel Macron (C) poses with members of the public for a selfie after a ceremony to seal the right to abortion in the French constitution, on International Women's Day, at the Place Vendome, in Paris, on March 8, 2024 Pictures of French President Emmanuel Macron by his offical photographer Soazig de la Moissonnie Macron is seen holding his crisp blue jacket over his shoulder as he checks his phone Macron ties a tie in front of his personal photographer The Russian President has for more than two decades harnessed the influence of his state-controlled media empire to create a personality cult, displaying himself as a fit and strong man-in-charge. Images of Judo black-belt Putin effortlessly tossing martial arts experts over his shoulder, galloping bare-chested on horseback and plunging stone-faced into icy lakes were routinely plastered on billboards and beamed into the living rooms of every Russian citizen. Speaking on the images of Macron pummelling the heavy bag in the boxing gym, French media relations expert Gaspard Gantzer said his president wants to show 'he is a Frenchman like any other... that he is in great physical shape... that he wants to fight.' Women's magazine Femme Actuelle also piled in, commenting that the photos showed 'a determined look, as if he wants to do battle with his opponent… He seems to hit so hard that his biceps pop out from under his black T-shirt.' But Macron's PR drive is not centred around overt aggression and sporting prowess. It takes a more subtle tack, seeking to portray the Head of State as the complete package - a man other men want to be, and women want to be with. Unlike Putin's serious, stonefaced photoshoots, the official images of Macron by de la Moissonnière are more tasteful, capturing the French leader's looks, confidence and charm as much as his masculinity and physical capabilities. From pictures of the President flashing a winning smile as he lounged on a mustard colour sofa with an crisp, unbuttoned shirt revealing his hairy chest, to the notorious portrait of Macron wearing a Zelensky-style hoody as he strode into the Golden Room of the Elysee Palace in the early days of the Ukraine war - many of the snaps seek to display him as a man of versatility and character, rather than a hard-nosed, no-nonsense statesman. His photographic oeuvre reads like a catalogue of calculated nonchalance, with each image serving a dual purpose: to humanise the politician and to project an aura of charisma. Macron, wearing French tricolore boxing gloves, slams a punchbag Macron's PR drive seeks to portray him as the complete package - a more subtle tack than that of his Russian counterpart Macron and his wife are seen alongside Elton John and David Furnish Macron peeks at his personal photographer through a magnifying glass in the Elysee Palace French President Emmanuel Macron (R) wears a flying suit as he meets with troops during a visit to the French air force base BA 125 in Istres, southeastern France, on July 20, 2017 A smiling Macron rests his head on a stack of papers at his desk French President Emmanuel Macron looks at his phone following a family photo with G7 leaders at the G7 Summit in Elmau southern Germany, on June 26, 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron riding his jetski during holidays in Fort de Bregancon, South of France All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility