Ødelæggelsen af templet i Charenton (Démolition du Temple de Charenton) 1703 - 1717

Johanna Sibylla Küsel created this engraving, “The Destruction of the Temple at Charenton,” to illustrate a dark moment in French history. It depicts the demolition of the Protestant church, or temple, at Charenton in 1685, an event ordered by Louis XIV as part of his campaign against the Huguenots. Küsel's work captures the physical act of destruction, but also symbolizes the broader suppression of religious freedom and the persecution of a minority group. Consider the emotional weight of this scene; the temple was not just a building, but a center of community and faith for French Protestants. Küsel's decision to document this event offers a glimpse into the gendered aspects of religious and political conflict, highlighting how women artists like herself engaged with and represented these struggles. The print preserves the memory of a lost space, and prompts reflection on the fragility of religious tolerance, and the role of art in bearing witness to historical events.