Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) was the leader of the French Romantic painting school. Unlike their Neoclassically-trained contemporaries who favored clear line, modeled form, and historical events, Romantic painters emphasised color and open brushwork and depicted contemporary events. Delacroix’s masterpiece Liberty Leading the People (1830) exemplifies these principles while commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, an uprising that overthrew King Charles X. The painting depicts a scene of chaotic rebellion led by the allegorical figure of Liberty. A diverse crowd, of workers and the wealthy, adults and children, follow her, suggesting that the impending revolution is for the benefit of all. Colors of red, blue, and white punctuate the composition and recall the French tricolour flag, further adding to the painting’s revolutionary spirit.

Learn more about the work that inspired this pin HERE.