Liberty Leading the People - Eugène Delacroix
This imposing oil on canvas by Eugène Delacroix, painted in 1830, embodies the revolutionary ideal and the fight for freedom. The central female figure attracts all eyes, halfway between the tangible and the idea. The lyricism and violence that emerge from this work first surprised the public and the supporters of the new regime who wanted to appease the working classes. The political significance of the work is such that it is frequently chosen as a symbol of the French Republic or of democracy.
The artwork in a nutshell
This imposing oil on canvas by Eugène Delacroix, painted in 1830, embodies the revolutionary ideal and the fight for freedom. The central female figure attracts all eyes, halfway between the tangible and the idea. The lyricism and violence that emerge from this work first surprised the public and the supporters of the new regime who wanted to appease the working classes. The political significance of the work is such that it is frequently chosen as a symbol of the French Republic or of democracy.
Compare with the original
Reproduction of Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix

