Affiche voor het casino van Enghien-les-Bains 1890

This poster for the Casino of Enghien-les-Bains, designed by Jules Chéret, presents us with a spirited procession of children on horseback, set against the backdrop of bursting fireworks. Notice the prominent fleur-de-lis on the coat of arms, the stylized lily, once the emblem of French royalty. Its roots trace back to ancient symbolism. Consider the scepter, also seen as a symbol of power. The scepter wielded by the child here evokes associations with authority, yet is transformed into a harmless firework sparkler, a symbol of merriment. The act of riding and the figure of a child have been a recurrent motif throughout the history of art, with equestrian statues of emperors, and children appearing in renaissance paintings. The shift in meaning over time reveals a culture's changing values, yet the emotional pull remains. These symbols resonate within us, tapping into a collective memory that transcends epochs. The cyclical resurgence of such motifs remind us that history is not a linear progression but a continuous reinterpretation of the past.