The Paris Mob–A Barricade in Paris, from "The Graphic," vol. 3
After Arthur Boyd Houghton British, born India
Not on view
Illustrated periodicals such as "The Graphic" in London and "Harper’s Weekly" in New York helped the British and American publics to visualize the events of the Paris Commune. Houghton’s depiction of a barricade appeared in both publications on April 8 and May 6, 1871 respectively. The description of the Communards as a "mob" makes clear that the publishers did not support the insurrection. As in the preceding revolutions of 1789, 1830, and 1848, the barricade, constructed with overturned carriages, furniture, and cobblestones, became a potent symbol of the uprising. The accompanying article employs a touristic tone, describing blithely how "these street fortifications have always been a great feature in a Parisian revolution."
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