Pluviôse (20 januari – 18 februari) 1792 - 1794

Salvatore Tresca created this etching, Pluviôse, illustrating the French Republican calendar. Here, the veil isn't merely a piece of cloth; it’s a symbol echoing through time, representing modesty, protection, and mystery. The woman’s gentle hold upon it reminds me of countless veiled figures across eras, from ancient Roman priestesses to Renaissance Madonnas. Consider its transformation: once a sign of religious devotion or social status, now, in Tresca's hands, it suggests a more secular virtue, a kind of enlightened modesty fitting the Republican ideals. The gesture itself, drawing the veil across her face, also resonates deeply. It recalls the act of revelation and concealment, seen in theatrical performances and religious rituals. The image triggers a collective memory, a latent understanding of such gestures as powerful expressions of emotional states. Indeed, this veil's journey is cyclical, surfacing in different forms, yet always carrying echoes of its past.