To commemorate the rebuilding of the Paris Hotel de Ville, burnt by the Communards in 1871 1882

Cast in metal, this medal by Jules-Clément Chaplain commemorates the rebuilding of the Paris Hotel de Ville between 1874 and 1882. The circular form is divided into two distinct sides, each employing a different approach to convey its message. One side features a dense arrangement of text, wreaths, and heraldic symbols, all meticulously rendered to celebrate French governance and the city of Paris. The reverse side presents a figurative scene: a seated female figure, perhaps an allegory of Paris or Architecture, gestures towards the rebuilt Hotel de Ville. Chaplain skillfully uses relief to create depth and texture, emphasizing the architectural details of the building and the draped fabric of the figure's clothing. The clean lines and structured composition reflect a desire to reassert order and progress after the tumultuous events of 1871, using classical motifs to project an image of stability and restored grandeur. Yet this controlled aesthetic also invites questions about how power is visually encoded in public symbols and spaces.