“Liberty Leading the People”, painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830 is an oil painting portraying the July Revolution. It was created in response to the political upheaval that resulted in the overthrow of the reigning monarch, Charles X. This is his most known piece of work which shows the struggle of the people fighting for Liberty. He was known as the leader in his school of French painting. He painted his work in 1830. He was quoted saying "My bad mood is vanishing thanks to hard work. I’ve embarked on a modern subject, a barricade. And if I haven’t fought for my country at least I’ll paint for her” (Liberty Leading the People). He painted an allegorical goddess-figure, but also a strong woman. The cap that she wears symbolizes Liberty during the French Revolution. This painting has become a symbol of the end of the Age of Enlightenment. The fighters in the painting are all a mixture of the social classes. They all have different apparel but contain the same determination in their faces. It has been said that the man with the top hat is a self-portrait of Delacroix. It was also suggested that it was the model theatre director Etienne Arago, but it was never confirmed. This painting inspired the creation of the Statue of Liberty in New York City which was given to the United States from the French 50 years after this painting was done. This painting has had a large influence on classical music. Delacroix used this painting as a political poster during the Revolution. This painting was first exhibited at the official Paris Salon in May 1831.
In this painting Delacroix uses vibrant colors and traces of pure pigment. The effects of the sharp primary colors go well with the subject of the painting. There are areas that are brightly reflective and adjacent areas of dark shadow. There is a variety of human emotion and it is full of historical reference. It is a traditional signifier of Parisian rebellion (Smart History). “Liberty Leading the People” shows the differences between the romantic approach and the neoclassical style. The symbolic female figure is slightly illuminated and draws most of the attention to her. To have a woman signifying such a strong, important topic was a big deal (Liberty Leading the People). Women were not given any credit. They had a very strict and expected lifestyle. Over time women were given a bigger role in society which is shown by Delacriox painting a women leading the people and representing Liberty. Women’s rights evolved over time as you can see by comparing “the Washer Women” and the “Liberty Leading the People.”
Smart History, Romanticism in France: Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, http://smarthistory.org/romanticism-in-france.html
Liberty Leading the People, Wikipedia March 31 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix
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