State Funeral of Maria Theresa of Spain, Dauphine of France, in the Cathedral of Nôtre Dame de Paris, 24 November 1746 c. 18th century

Curator: At first glance, the mood is so heavy and somber. The elaborate drapery almost suffocates the scene. Editor: This is Charles-Nicolas Cochin le jeune's print depicting the State Funeral of Maria Theresa of Spain at Notre Dame in 1746. Notice the plate's dimensions; it's considerably sized at roughly 20 by 13 inches. Curator: The sheer volume of people! I wonder what the symbolic weight of all those figures gathered represents for France at that time? Editor: It’s compelling to consider the labor involved in creating and staging such an event. Each detail in the cathedral, the fabric, even the vestments, represents a material process. Curator: Indeed. Visually, the artist uses this intense architectural space to amplify the symbolic impact of the monarchy and the church. Editor: The print itself, as a reproducible object, democratized access to the visual spectacle of power. Curator: It seems to present a very calculated image of grief and ceremony. Editor: Yes, and examining the materials used to create this image highlights that tension between spectacle and the everyday realities of production in 18th-century France. Curator: It's fascinating how it encapsulates both the grandeur and the weight of dynastic succession. Editor: A somber reflection on loss and the machinations of power, rendered through skilled artistry and material means.