"Gentlemen, for having saved the fatherland..." 1831

Curator: This is "Gentlemen, for having saved the fatherland...", an artwork by Auguste Raffet. There is no date available. Editor: The first thing I notice is the performative nature of the scene – the figure on the podium seems to incite a somewhat grotesque enthusiasm from the crowd. Curator: Indeed, the lithographic process allows for a high level of detail, capturing the varied expressions and textures of clothing. We can think about lithography's role in democratizing art at the time. Editor: I'm interested in what this 'fatherland' represents, and who exactly is being saved. The text along the bottom, though partially illegible, implies satire through absurd repetition. Curator: The artist’s labor here speaks to the broader political landscape of 19th century France. Editor: Absolutely, thinking about how Raffet uses the material reality of lithography to engage with the social anxieties of the time gives us a much richer reading.