Honoré Gabriel Riquetti Mirabeau, Deputy of the Provence Region, from Tableaux historiques de la Révolution Française 1798 - 1804

This print by Levachez depicts Honoré Gabriel Riquetti Mirabeau, a deputy of the Provence region during the French Revolution. In the upper image, Mirabeau is encircled, evoking classical portraiture, linking him to the revered figures of the past. Beneath the portrait, a procession unfolds, suggesting civic duty. This motif of public procession dates back to ancient Rome, appearing in triumphal arches and imperial reliefs. Over time, this motif became a symbolic representation of power. The procession is a potent image, connecting to deep-seated memories and ideas about power and collective identity. This image, rooted in historical precedent, engaged the subconscious, triggering a mix of emotions and associations linked to the ebb and flow of societal change. The symbols within this print are far from static, evolving through repetition and cultural adaptation. They resurface in our collective consciousness, constantly reshaped and imbued with new layers of meaning.