Einde van de feestelijkheden op Versailles met vuurwerkspektakel Possibly 1664 - 1669

Israel Silvestre created this etching called 'End of the festivities at Versailles with fireworks display', during a time when Louis XIV sought to consolidate power through spectacular displays of wealth and control. Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist positions the fireworks not just as entertainment, but as a symbol of royal power, quite literally illuminating the night. The etching captures a moment of public spectacle designed to impress both domestic and foreign audiences, reinforcing the idea of France as the epicenter of culture and power. Versailles itself was a stage for performing identity, where courtiers and guests were expected to adhere to strict social codes. Silvestre's work invites us to consider the relationship between power, spectacle, and identity in the context of the French court. What does it mean to construct an identity through such displays of opulence? How do these performances affect those who are included, and those who are excluded?