Het Oude Marktplein te Rouen 1792 - 1868

Pierre Luc Charles Cicéri captured the Oude Marktplein in Rouen with watercolor, inviting us to reflect on the narratives embedded in urban spaces. Cicéri, who lived through the tumultuous years of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, presents a scene that seems to exist outside the bounds of these historical upheavals. The painting depicts the square with an almost dreamlike quality, softening the edges of its buildings and inhabitants. The women in the foreground, with their traditional attire, evoke a sense of timelessness. Yet, this square carries a history marked by public executions, most notably that of Joan of Arc. Cicéri's choice to soften the square's harsh realities encourages us to consider how collective memory is selectively shaped. The ghostly cathedral looming in the background serves as a reminder of the powerful institutions that have shaped European history. Is this a romanticized view of the past or a deliberate act of erasure? Consider how Cicéri uses the emotional resonance of the scene to evoke a sense of nostalgia.