Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People: Analysis & Context

Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People

1. The Painting

• Location: Musée du Louvre
• Artist: Eugène Delacroix
• Style: Romanticism
• Date: 1830
• Technique: Oil on canvas
• Subject: Fabric

2. Context

A) Historical Context

The nineteenth century was a time of profound political, economic, and cultural change. It emphasizes the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution. Napoleon stretched the French presence throughout Europe. The victorious European monarchies, absolute monarchies, called the Restoration period.

B) Cultural Context

In this stage, three streams are highlighted: Neoclassical, Realism, and Romanticism.

3. Characteristics

a) General Characteristics

Expresses moods and feelings, while reason is still important.

Topics: Scenery (preferably savage, mysterious, or natural disasters), dramatic affairs, exotic themes, terror, melancholy, and revolutionary political scenes. The portrait emerges as the best genre to represent the romantic spirit, with faces full of sadness and tenderness. Color predominates over drawing.

b) Key Painters

In England, William Turner and John Constable are prominent. In Germany, David Friedrich is significant. In France, Théodore Géricault opens the way to realism and connects well with the anatomy of the body.

Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863)

Delacroix worked with a very dynamic style and colorful movement. Through his painting, Delacroix shows interest in literary subjects (The Barque of Dante), historical and political events (Liberty Leading the People), and exotic or oriental themes (Women of Algiers).

4. Description

a) Chroma

The strokes are applied with great ease and flow.

b) Brightness

Delacroix uses a dramatic and complex light, with highlights and shadows, but whose origin is not immediately visible. The figures in the foreground are illuminated by a lateral focus.

c) Movement

The treatment of color and light is contingent on a more important goal: to boost the movement. The work is imbued with movement.

d) Structure

The composition of the work is similar to The Raft of the Medusa, as the figures are framed by a pyramid whose apex upward in the cloth has been replaced by the insignia of the shipwrecked French, built by Liberty.

e) First Plane

There are two dead figures. Among those killed in this plane are also soldiers loyal to Charles X. At the foot of Liberty is a dying man.

f) Second Plane

A central figure: the central female figure is a symbol of Liberty, but also identified with France itself. She bears two revolutionary symbols: the red cap and tricolor flag.

5. Meaning and Function

a) Meaning

This painting is the first modern political composition. With this material, the author was referring to the three revolutionary days (July 27, 28, and 29, 1830).

b) Function

Propaganda, but over time it acquired a more memorial function.