The Arrival of Louis XVI in the Capital Three Days after the Taking of the Bastille (17 July 1789) 1789

Editor: This is Jean François Janinet’s engraving, "The Arrival of Louis XVI in the Capital Three Days after the Taking of the Bastille," created in 1789. It feels incredibly tense, the way everyone is positioned around the carriage. What do you make of it? Curator: It's a potent image, isn’t it? Janinet captures that pivotal moment when the king's power was visibly shifting. You sense the unease, that feeling of walking on eggshells. Does the building in the background strike you as familiar? Editor: I hadn't really noticed the building, I was too focused on the carriage. Curator: It might be! It's a fascinating glimpse into a society on the cusp of radical change. There's a story in every line. Editor: Absolutely! It's definitely given me a new perspective.