A History of Western Society: Printed Page 629
PRIMARY SOURCE 19.4
Contrasting Visions of the Sans-Culottes
These two images offer profoundly different representations of a sans-culotte woman. The image on the left was created by a French artist, while the image on the right is English. The French words above the image on the right read in part, “Heads! Blood! Death! … I am the Goddess of Liberty! … Long Live the Guillotine!”
EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
Question
How would you describe the woman on the left? What qualities does the artist seem to ascribe to her, and how do you think these qualities relate to the sans-culottes and the Revolution? How would you characterize the facial expression and attire of the woman on the right? How does the inclusion of the text contribute to your impressions of her?
Question
What does the contrast between these two images suggest about differences between French and English perceptions of the sans-culottes and of the French Revolution? Why do you think the artists have chosen to depict women?