The Revolution Takes Form: Art and the Barricade in Nineteenth-Century France

The book "The Revolution Takes Form: Coordinating the Political Reality of the Barricade with the Divergent Ways in Which Its Image Gave Shape to the Period Conceptions of Class, Revolution, and Urban Space" explores the changing political valence of the revolutionary ideals associated with the barricade in France from 1830 to 1852. It focuses on five politically charged works of art that illuminate how such revolutionary insurrections were characterized and the conceptions of "the people" they mobilized.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 19 March 2024
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

During the tumultuous French Revolution of 1830, a wave of insurrection swept across the nation, with insurgents erecting an astounding four thousand barricades. The streets erupted in fierce combat, and the lithographs that captured these clashes swiftly emerged from the presses, solidifying the barricades as the defining imagery of the era. This captivating book delves into the shifting political significance of the revolutionary ideals associated with the barricade in France from 1830 to 1852.

The Revolution Takes Form seamlessly weaves together the political realities of the barricade with the diverse ways in which its image shaped the prevailing conceptions of class, revolution, and urban space during this transformative period. Art historian Jordan Marc Rose takes a deep dive into the unstable nature of the barricade, focusing on five politically charged artworks that shed light on the characteristics of these revolutionary insurrections. These artworks include Eugène Delacroix's iconic La Liberté guidant le peuple, Honoré Daumier's powerful Rue Transnonain, le 15 avril 1834, and LÉmeute by Auguste Préault, as well as Ernest Meissonier's poignant Souvenir de guerre civile. By examining the history of these artworks, Rose offers a compelling account of how the barricade became a captivating subject for pictorial reflection and emerged as the most poignant and meaningful symbol of revolution during the French Revolution.

This book is a valuable resource for students and scholars of art history, particularly those interested in the history of the French Revolution. With its original and compelling approach, The Revolution Takes Form provides a fresh perspective on this pivotal period, shedding light on the complex dynamics that shaped the revolution and the enduring legacy of the barricade as a symbol of resistance and change.

Weight: 770g
Dimension: 186 x 262 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271095493