The Expulsion of the Jesuits 1761

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin created this detailed etching, titled "The Expulsion of the Jesuits," sometime in the 18th century. The print depicts two circular scenes connected by a central pillar, framed by ornate decorations. Each scene, rendered in fine lines, captures distinct moments related to the expulsion. On the left, a figure burns books, while others descend a grand staircase. To the right, figures are ushered out of a gated entrance. The composition’s symmetry is disrupted by the chaotic energy of the expulsion, contrasting with the formal architectural settings. Saint-Aubin uses the linear precision of the etching to highlight the tension between order and upheaval, reflecting the philosophical debates of the Enlightenment. The arrangement asks us to decode the cultural signs: the books, the architecture, and the actions of the figures. This challenges fixed interpretations of power and knowledge. The detailed linework and balanced yet dynamic composition serve not just as aesthetic choices, but as a commentary on cultural and philosophical discourse.