After the Execution of the Two Agasse Brothers, Their Bodies Are Returned to Their Families (8 February 1790) 1789

Editor: This small etching by Jean François Janinet, "After the Execution of the Two Agasse Brothers," from 1790, is stark. What strikes me is the public spectacle of death and how it's being witnessed. What's your perspective? Curator: It is a stark image, isn't it? Consider its context. During the French Revolution, public executions were highly political. This image isn't just documenting an event; it's participating in a dialogue about justice, power, and the role of the state. Editor: So, the artist isn't just passively recording what happened, but actively shaping the narrative? Curator: Precisely. It asks us to consider who benefits from displaying such scenes and how this spectacle might influence public opinion. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's crucial to think of art as active in society.