The Abbé Maury, Booed and Menaced by the People, Is Escorted by a Detachment of the National Guard (13 April 1790) c. 1789

Curator: This print, made by Jean François Janinet, depicts the Abbé Maury on April 13, 1790. Immediately, I notice the tension conveyed through its composition. Editor: It's quite dynamic. The stark contrast emphasizes the chaotic energy of the crowd versus the rigid architecture, doesn’t it? This speaks to the social unrest, right? Curator: Indeed. The etching technique, with its precise lines, almost documents the event. It makes you consider the availability of materials and printmaking's role in disseminating revolutionary sentiment. Editor: And the theatrical figures in the windows. What does their gaze tell us about perspective and class in this turbulent time? Curator: It speaks to how printed images shape our understanding of history and the labor inherent in creating these visual narratives. Editor: I see that now; it's a window into a complex past. Curator: Precisely, a past built on material realities and artistic choices.