The Shirt of the Emperor, Worn during His Execution 1867

François Aubert made this photograph of Maximilian I's shirt sometime after the Emperor's execution in Mexico. The garment is ordinary enough, machine-sewn perhaps, of cotton, and likely produced en masse. Yet, its ordinariness makes its significance all the more acute. Note the materiality of the cotton, its creases and stains. It has absorbed Maximilian's sweat and blood, and now bears the traces of his final moments. The bullet holes are evidence of violence. The stark presentation of the shirt confronts us with the fragility of life and the brutality of political upheaval. The damage and decay, which we might normally consider undesirable, convey powerful meaning. Aubert’s photograph elevates this bloodied shirt from a mere artifact to a symbol of loss, and a potent commentary on the futility of imperial ambition. It reminds us that even the most powerful individuals are reduced to the most basic materiality, and that even mundane items can carry immense historical weight.