The Aide-de-Camps of M. de Lafayette Passes through Gunfire to Carry Out his Mission in the Service of the King (5 October 1789) 1789

Editor: This etching by Jean François Janinet depicts "The Aide-de-Camps of M. de Lafayette Passes through Gunfire to Carry Out his Mission in the Service of the King (5 October 1789)." There's so much chaos, smoke, and action crammed into such a small space! What story do you think Janinet is trying to tell? Curator: The story, my dear, feels almost incidental. What grabs me is the sheer drama, the raw energy of the moment captured. The King's service seems almost secondary to the sheer audacity of that ride, wouldn't you say? Editor: I suppose so, yes. Curator: And Janinet, bless his heart, knew how to translate that audacity into a visual feast. It's more about the spectacle of history unfolding. Food for thought, eh? Editor: Absolutely! It's definitely a perspective I hadn't considered.