Commemorating the Vote of March 16, 1830 1830

Editor: Here we have François Augustin Caunois’ bronze sculpture, "Commemorating the Vote of March 16, 1830". The Neoclassical style makes me think of grand narratives, but something about a vote being commemorated feels like an incomplete story. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s interesting that you pick up on the grand narrative feeling! This medal functions as a piece of political propaganda, celebrating a restrictive vote under Charles X. Neoclassical art often served to legitimize power structures by drawing parallels to the perceived glories of ancient civilizations, but we need to consider who benefits from this glorification and whose voices are suppressed. Editor: So, it's less about democracy in action and more about power trying to cement itself? The female figure feels a little like Lady Liberty... but for the privileged only, perhaps? Curator: Precisely. The figure, while seemingly alluding to liberty, serves the interests of a specific group, likely excluding many from actual political participation. Look at the rooster on top of the pillar -- the gallic rooster represents France. What might that symbol represent within the context of 1830? Editor: National pride, maybe? But I imagine, for some, this "pride" came at the cost of their own rights. Thinking about the medal as propaganda shifts my understanding completely. Curator: Exactly. Understanding the social and historical context reveals the medal’s complexities. It asks us to consider how symbols can be manipulated to uphold specific ideologies, and to question the narratives we’re presented with. Editor: I’ll never look at Neoclassical art the same way again. Thank you! Curator: And I'm left considering what types of images and symbolism we're using today, consciously or unconsciously, to bolster existing power dynamics.