Kapel in het Hôtel des Invalides, Parijs 1887 - 1900

This is a photograph of the chapel in the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris. Flags line the upper reaches of the chapel, symbols of military victories but also potent reminders of sacrifice and loss. The victorious banner, so prominent in triumphal processions of ancient Rome, reappear here. In the Roman context, they signify military strength and territorial expansion, a tradition carried through the ages. Yet, these symbols of triumph are here, in a chapel—a place dedicated to spiritual reflection and often, remembrance of the dead. This juxtaposition creates a tension: the glory of conquest intermingling with the somber acknowledgement of human cost. Consider how the waving flag, once purely a battle standard, becomes a complex emblem. Over time, its meaning has been layered with notions of national identity, pride, and even mourning. Perhaps the flags, hanging high in the chapel, touch something deep within us, stirring collective memories and reminding us of the cyclical nature of triumph and tragedy.