Numa en de stervende Tatius 1786

Jean Dambrun created this print, “Numa en de stervende Tatius”, sometime between 1761 and 1808, using etching and engraving. Dambrun lived in an era profoundly shaped by the Enlightenment, a period that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority. This print depicts a scene of ancient conflict and reconciliation; it reflects the 18th-century fascination with classical antiquity, but it also subtly engages with contemporary themes of governance, conflict resolution, and cultural identity. In the foreground, we see a figure kneeling before a dying man, pleading for something. The inscription “Ne refuse pas ma priere” which translates to “Do not refuse my prayer” adds an emotional layer to the print. Dambrun invites us to reflect on the complexities of power, negotiation, and the forging of common identities amidst historical and cultural divides. It is an intimate moment of appeal set against a larger backdrop of political and social transformation.