Home > Arts > Artists > V > Voltaire
COMMUNE / GUILLOTINE BURNT
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
COMMUNE / GUILLOTINE BURNT
A crowd of National Guardsmen and citizens look on as a guillotine is ceremoniously burnt before the statue of Voltaire Date: 7 April 1871
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 20148859
© Bubblepunk
1871 Burnt Citizens Commune Crowds Guardsmen Guillotine Voltaire
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Arts
> Artists
> V
> Voltaire
> Europe
> France
> Related Images
> Mary Evans Prints Online
> New Images July 2020
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures a pivotal moment in French history as the crowd, a mix of National Guardsmen and citizens, gather to witness the ceremonial burning of the guillotine before the statue of Voltaire on 7 April 1871. The guillotine, an infamous symbol of the French Revolution and its Reign of Terror, had been used to execute thousands of people during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. With the fall of the Paris Commune, a short-lived socialist government that ruled Paris from March to May 1871, the guillotine was seen as a relic of the past and a reminder of the violence and instability that had plagued the country. The burning of the guillotine was a symbolic act meant to mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in French history. The crowd, a mix of curiosity, excitement, and solemnity, watches as the wooden structure is set ablaze, the flames consuming the metal blade and the wooden frame. The statue of Voltaire, the Enlightenment philosopher and champion of reason and freedom, stands witness to the event, a fitting symbol of the ideals that had inspired the French Revolution and the Paris Commune. The image is a poignant reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of historical events and the role that symbols and rituals play in shaping collective memory. It also underscores the enduring power of images to capture the imagination and evoke strong emotions, making this photograph a valuable historical document and an intriguing glimpse into the past.
MADE IN THE UK
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
FREE COLORIZATION SERVICE
You can choose advanced AI Colorization for this picture at no extra charge!
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Basket.
