The Weeping Willow with hidden silhouettes of the Royal family

Art Historical Context

In the turbulent aftermath of the French Revolution this delicate 1795 engraving, *The Weeping Willow with silhouettes of the Royal family serves as a poignant symbol of and covert royalist sentiment. Created just two years after the executions of Louis XVI and Marieoinette—and coinciding with the death of young son, Louis XVII—the image features a gracefully drooping willow tree, a classic emblem of sorrow. Upon closer inspection, shadowy silhouettes of the Bourbon royals emerge subtly within the branches, a clever optical illusion that allowed sympathizers to pay homage without risking persecution during the Reign of Terror. The medium of engraving was ideal for such subversive art: its fine lines, etched into a metal plate and reproduced on paper (measuring about 7½ × 5⅝ inches), enabled discreet circulation among loyalists. Attributed variously to the imprisoned Louis XVII, his executed parents, or an anonymous artist, the print's romantic provenance underscores the era's blend of artistry and political defiance. These hidden portraits not only showcase technical ingenuity but also highlight how everyday motifs like trees could encode deep cultural resistance. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the 1938 bequest of Mary Martin, this work invites visitors to ponder the human cost of revolution and the enduring power of subtle symbolism.

About the Artist

Louis XVII|Louis XVI, King of France|Anonymous|Marie Antoinette, Queen of France (French, born Austria|French| ) · 1755 |1785 | –1792 |1795 |

French (born Austria), Vienna 1755–1792 Paris|French, Versailles 1785–1795 Paris|