Design for the Tomb of Louis XVIII; verso: Sketch of a Weapon (?) 18th-19th century

Curator: Lafitte’s drawing, “Design for the Tomb of Louis XVIII,” sketches out an elaborate memorial, likely from around 1814 given the Roman numerals at the bottom. What strikes you first about it? Editor: It feels incredibly formal, almost cold. The figures seem more symbolic than emotional. Is that intentional, a reflection of the restored monarchy? Curator: Undoubtedly. Remember, Louis XVIII's reign was about re-establishing legitimacy after revolution and empire. A grand tomb would reinforce Bourbon authority and erase inconvenient histories. Editor: So, the classicizing figures are less about grief and more about projecting power. The choice of a tomb as a medium of power is very telling. What stories do tombs tell, and who gets to tell them? Curator: Precisely. It is fascinating to consider how this design, even unrealized, participates in the broader political theater of post-revolutionary France, using imagery to reinstate a specific narrative. Editor: I find myself wondering about the counter-narratives, those voices that resist such grand pronouncements of power. What were they saying at the time, and how can we amplify those voices today? Curator: That is a crucial question. Perhaps by re-examining these seemingly straightforward images, we can find the cracks through which those dissenting voices still resonate. Editor: It's a good reminder that even the most carefully constructed narratives are never truly complete, leaving space for alternative interpretations and resistance.