Art, Revolution, and Symbols

Day 5

Now by this time the group is looking a little like a walking “Thriller” video. I am just happy that I thought to bring some mole skin otherwise I don’t think that most of the group would be up for going anywhere. But today we went through another old part of Paris passing by a Jewish Orthodox synagogue. Standing outside of this temple there were two police officers heavily armed which gave me a perfect example of why to be careful in a big city in any country regardless of how safe it might seem. Now, on to the point of today’s expedition, the Carnavalet museum with its rich contents regarding the French Revolutions.

Seeing as how we are mostly the walking wounded at this point I was worried about all of the stairs, at least until I went inside then I couldn’t be stopped from seeing the entirety of the museum and what it had to offer.

This museum was one of the biggest learning experiences for me so far on this trip. Just seeing the intestinal fortitude displayed by the French during the times of war, famine, disease, and oppression is incredible. Also one of the things that I was previously unaware of was that the French basically backed us during our revolution in 1776, not only with training and manpower, but also financially. This is surprising to me especially due to the common opinion that Americans have toward the French. This seeming opinion dates back to long before the current state of international affairs which is puzzling as to the fickle mentality of governments. It makes me wonder why anyone trusts anyone, for necessity is never a good reason for necessity always ends up changing.

Back to the museum, I found it incredible that the French show the executions of the royals and leaders of the Revolutions with equal impartiality. I also found it disturbingly moving how the French people have on display how they suffered during their times of war and strife. They don’t throw it in your face like some groups do, rather than this they set up these different museums for anyone who is curious to see what they went through so we hopefully can learn from their mistakes.

There is one thing I also wish to discuss concerning the artwork from the different revolutions. Now I am no expert on symbolism, nor am I a Masonic scholar, I also am not a member of the Freemason organization. But there were several references of seemingly Masonic symbols on multiple pieces of artwork from the early stages of the French Revolution. This is curious upon finding out that the French government was essential to getting our revolution off of the ground, especially when you consider how many of our forefathers of this country were known Masons and there seems to be a prevalent placement of Masonic symbols throughout the artwork in this museum. These images include repeated appearances of The All Seeing Eye, such as on the back of the American one dollar bill, and the Square and Compass.