Deel van een gipsafgietsel van de graftombe van koning François II in het Musée des monuments français te Parijs c. 1875 - 1900

Méderic Mieusement created this photograph of a plaster cast of the tomb of King François II in the Musée des monuments français in Paris in the late 19th century. Mieusement's photograph captures a moment in the historical preservation movement, where plaster casts served to document and preserve cultural heritage during a time of significant social upheaval in France. Consider the role of gender in this representation. The female figures, likely representing virtues or mourning figures, reflect prevailing societal expectations of women as symbols of piety and grief. The photograph invites us to think about the relationship between gender, power, and memory in the construction of historical narratives. This photograph not only documents a work of art but also provides a window into the cultural values and historical context of 19th-century France. It prompts us to reflect on how we engage with the past and the stories we tell ourselves about history.