The Bravery of Parisian Women on October 5, 1789

Jacques-Philippe Caresme French

Not on view

This print is dedicated to the working-class women of Paris who marched on Versailles to protest the high price and shortage of bread, which became one of the founding events of the French Revolution. The woman in combat at center is Louise Reine Audu, a fruit seller who, according to contemporary accounts, killed several royal guards in the confrontation. She was apparently among the small delegation of women allowed to directly petition King Louis XVI. Caresme made two revolutionary prints but is otherwise known for his paintings of gallant themes.

The Bravery of Parisian Women on October 5, 1789, Jacques-Philippe Caresme (French, Paris 1734–1796 Paris), Engraving

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.