Napoleon Accompanied by his Good Men, Returning to France on March 1, 1815 20 - 1815

Curator: I find this lithograph so striking! The textures achieved with such simple materials are fascinating. Editor: It definitely has an impressive quality of light, almost ethereal. Is that Napoleon? Curator: It is indeed! This is François Gérard’s "Napoleon Accompanied by his Good Men, Returning to France on March 1, 1815," created around that very year. Look at the subtle gradations in tone – a marvel for a print. Editor: The image certainly taps into a deep well of historical imagery and iconography of leadership. He is posed heroically. It almost has a classical, almost romantic feel to it. Curator: Absolutely, it speaks volumes about image making, and especially the making of Napoleon’s image! A lithograph allowed for relatively easy reproduction and dissemination. The image itself is then used as propaganda! Editor: I'm particularly drawn to the details of his saddle and the ornate decoration, they suggest not just power but perhaps even a touch of... vulnerability. Is that deliberate? Curator: It hints at a human scale among such events, perhaps alluding to the realities and difficulties faced even by figures as monumental as Napoleon at this point. He was returning from exile after all. Editor: There's a stark contrast between the imposing figure and the rather barren landscape. Curator: Interesting you note that because I'd say it contributes to its complex message. He looks commanding, even victorious in posture, while being supported by his ‘good men’ and still being faced with very hard land to travel. It tells a story of reliance and endurance I think. Editor: Yes, there’s something bittersweet here, isn’t there? He has returned, but the land and the resources may be depleted. Curator: Right, an amazing piece that truly tells the narrative through material means of representation and reproduction, that helps disseminate, frame and create an important imagery for those who believed in his cause. Editor: Indeed, quite a fascinating artifact steeped in so much visual rhetoric and history, from the heroic image to the stark landscape that hints at a return and at the complex challenges he would encounter again.