"July Fourteenth" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

This print by Auguste Raffet commemorates "July Fourteenth" and is part of a volume of Béranger’s collected works. At its heart, we see a group of men carrying a wounded comrade, while a figure raises his hat in solidarity with the wounded. This act of carrying the fallen resonates with ancient motifs. Think of depictions of Christ being taken down from the cross, or Aeneas carrying his father from the ruins of Troy. Here, the fallen soldier becomes an emblem of sacrifice and resilience. The raised hat is a gesture seen throughout history, from ancient Roman triumphs to revolutionary gatherings, as an expression of victory, respect, or defiance. In ancient Rome, the gesture indicated freedom from slavery, the symbolism here is more complex. The emotional power of this image stems from its collective memory. These symbols create a potent connection between past struggles and present aspirations, urging us to remember and honor those who fought for liberty, their spirit of resilience echoing across generations.