National Holiday on the Boulevard Clichy 1878

This etching, "National Holiday on the Boulevard Clichy" was created by Félix Hilaire Buhot. Notice the flags and festive decorations adorning the buildings, symbols of national pride and unity. Such displays are deeply rooted in our collective psyche, evoking powerful feelings of belonging and shared identity. These emblems of the state trace back to ancient Rome, where legions marched under their standards, and even further to the totemic symbols of tribal societies. Observe how the festive chaos of the boulevard is mirrored in the sketched vignettes bordering the main scene. Here, Buhot echoes the practice of marginalia found in medieval manuscripts, but instead of religious commentary, he offers a playful, almost subconscious, reflection on the event. The parade floats and figures dancing along the edges act as a sort of dreamscape, a visual echo of the collective jubilation. These are not mere decorations, but fragments of a shared emotional experience, hinting at the complex interplay between conscious celebration and subconscious echoes.