Je hais, je veux punir des peuples odieux... 1825

Horace Vernet made this print, "Je hais, je veux punir des peuples odieux…," which translates to "I hate, I want to punish these odious people," using etching and engraving techniques. Here we see the artist turning to the theater for subject matter. The quote below the image is from Voltaire’s play “Henriade," an epic poem about the French Wars of Religion in the 16th century. Vernet was working in 19th-century France, a period of social upheaval and frequent revolution. His decision to represent a scene from a play about religious conflict is revealing. Perhaps he was reflecting on France’s turbulent past, or commenting on the role of the monarchy within French society. Note the contrast between the elaborately dressed monarch seated at the table and the stern-faced soldier, a reminder that leadership relies upon military power. To fully understand an artwork, a historian researches its social and institutional context by studying a range of sources, from literature to political documents. This helps us understand the complex relationship between art and the world.