Napoleon wordt uitgedoofd, 1813-1814 1814 - 1815

This hand-colored etching, made around 1813-1814 by an anonymous artist, depicts Napoleon in dire straits. The most striking symbol here is the bell labeled "Extinguisher of the Allies," held aloft, ready to snuff out Napoleon’s flame. The act of extinguishing a flame carries profound symbolic weight. Think back to ancient rituals where extinguishing the hearth fire signaled mourning or the end of a lineage. Here, the act of extinguishing suggests not just defeat, but the obliteration of Napoleon's legacy. This is not merely a political statement; it taps into deep-seated fears of erasure and oblivion. Consider how the image of the "flame" or light has been used in various contexts, from religious iconography to secular emblems of enlightenment. The extinguishing of this light, therefore, speaks to the fragility of power and the ephemeral nature of fame. The artist is engaging with primal anxieties about mortality and the impermanence of human endeavor. It reveals a collective desire to control history and memory.