Arrival of King Louis XVI in Paris after 1789

Curator: This is a medal by Bertrand Andrieu commemorating the "Arrival of King Louis XVI in Paris." Editor: It's so tiny! I'm struck by how much detail is packed into such a small circular space; it looks chaotic and dense. Curator: The composition is indeed quite intricate, wouldn’t you agree? The artist uses line and form to convey a sense of depth and movement. Editor: It also presents an incredibly sanitized vision of the event. This arrival was the result of intense pressure from women who marched to Versailles demanding bread. Where's the hunger, the desperation? Curator: The medal reduces a complex historical moment into a simplified narrative, typical of commemorative objects. The surface is quite reflective; its materiality emphasizes the idealization of the monarchy, wouldn't you say? Editor: Perhaps. But it also feels like propaganda. A small, easily distributed object used to control the narrative. Curator: An interesting point. It truly makes you consider the power of visual storytelling, even on such a small scale. Editor: Exactly. Let’s not forget whose stories get told, and whose are left out of the frame.