The Place de la Concorde 1770

Editor: This is Jean-Michel Moreau's "The Place de la Concorde." I'm struck by the detail he achieves in such a small space. What can you tell me about the history of this place and its representation? Curator: This print captures the Place de la Concorde, a site laden with political significance. Originally named Place Louis XV, it became a stage for revolution, including Louis XVI's execution. How do you think Moreau, working later, engages with that fraught history? Editor: Perhaps by showing it as orderly, a space of leisure rather than revolution? A way of re-writing the narrative? Curator: Precisely. Moreau's print offers a vision of restored order, subtly reinforcing the power structures of the time. It's a fascinating example of how art can shape public memory.