Eugène Delacroix: La Liberté guidant le peuple / Liberty Leading the People (1830)
In Liberty Leading the People, Delacroix created what is arguably the single most famous depiction of any flag, and certainly of the French tricolor. The central figure, the personification of Liberty (and of the French nation), brandishing the flag in one hand, a rifle in the other, climbs over her fallen comrades urging “the people” on to victory. 185 years later, the audacious imagery still resonates, inspiring quotation, imitation, and parody. Here are some, in responses to the recent Charlie Hebdo terrorism in Paris.
LA LIBERTÉ SERA TOUJOURS LA PLUS FORTE / FREEDOM WILL ALWAYS BE THE STRONGEST by Plantu, in Le Monde, January 9, 2015.Liberty Je suis Charlie Hebdo, by Gary Barker (garybarker.co.uk). He writes: “Let’s hope this call to arms only means more people pick up their pencils and brushes rather guns and knives. I have a feeling those politicians now espousing freedom of speech will soon be trying to us this tragic events to enforce legislation upon us all that will curtail even more of our freedoms.”Liberty Leading the Press Freedom Pen, by Angel Boligan, in El Universal, Mexico City, January 11, 2015.By Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer, January 7, 2015.The Simpsons’ tribute to victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, inserted into before the last commercial break in the episode Bart’s New Friend, January 11, 2015.By Kuang Biao 狂飙, China Digital Times.
Portland Flag Association 