Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans 1769

Editor: Here we have Antoine de Marcenay de Ghuy's print of Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans. It's a small, detailed image, and she looks so serene holding that sword. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It's intriguing, isn't it? This print captures Joan as both a warrior and a visionary. The delicate lines suggest a vulnerability, almost a dream-like quality. Do you notice how she's framed by foliage? It's as if she's emerging from the French landscape itself, an embodiment of its spirit. Editor: I do! So she is not just a fighter but almost an ethereal symbol? Curator: Precisely! Marcenay invites us to ponder Joan's dual nature. Heroism intertwined with a hint of the mystical. What do you make of that juxtaposition? Editor: It makes me see her in a new light, far beyond the battlefield. Thanks!