The Parade on the Boulevard 1760

Antoine Jean Duclos created this print, The Parade on the Boulevard, in France during the late 18th century. It depicts a street scene, a public spectacle unfolding before an audience drawn from various social classes. The figures on stage, elevated above the crowd, perform for the amusement of those below, while onlookers in the surrounding buildings also take in the scene. It's a snapshot of Parisian life, revealing the forms of entertainment and social interactions that were available at the time. Consider the role of public spaces in pre-revolutionary France. How did these settings contribute to the formation of public opinion and collective identity? To truly understand the print, we might turn to period accounts of Parisian street life, theatrical productions, or even police records documenting public gatherings. Through historical inquiry, we can better understand the print’s place in the cultural landscape of its time.