Spotprent op het monument opgericht ter ere van Lodewijk XIV op de Place des Victoires in Parijs in 1685 1701 - 1713

Curator: Let's consider this print, titled "Spotprent op het monument opgericht ter ere van Lodewijk XIV op de Place des Victoires in Parijs in 1685." It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum, and was likely produced sometime between 1701 and 1713 by an anonymous artist. Editor: It's got a rather theatrical, almost cartoonish feel, despite the serious subject matter. I'm drawn to the contrast between the seemingly solid monument and the fantastical figures surrounding it. All that intricate engraving… how was this reproduced? Curator: These kinds of prints were essential tools for political commentary during that era. The Place des Victoires, originally designed to glorify Louis XIV, became a site for expressing dissent, particularly after the economic hardships towards the end of his reign. This image clearly challenges the Sun King’s absolute power. The choice of a widely accessible medium like engraving suggests an attempt to influence public opinion beyond the court. Editor: You can see the material realities in the image itself. Someone etched this design, printed it on paper…cheaply reproducing the symbolic power of a monument erected in bronze and stone! What’s really interesting is how it renders that power unstable, questioning the very basis of Louis's authority. Notice that the figure representing France seems to be threatened… and there’s even a rather malevolent dragon breathing fire into the scene. Curator: Indeed, the symbolism is overt. The dragon could signify rebellion, or perhaps external threats to France. The allegorical figures around the monument represent the conquered nations, now appearing restless and uneasy, reflecting Louis XIV’s waning military and political dominance. Editor: And it brings it all down to a human scale. The engraver's hand is literally tracing and commenting on the ambitions, materiality and failures of kings and empires. Curator: The print serves as a powerful example of how visual culture can be weaponized to undermine even the most meticulously constructed image of authority. Editor: It makes you wonder, how many other ephemeral acts of resistance never made it into institutions like the Rijksmuseum, still fighting a war against power?