Every Man for Himself! 1833

Auguste Raffet created this lithograph titled 'Every Man for Himself!' during a time of significant social upheaval in France, likely sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The image captures a chaotic scene of soldiers in retreat, seemingly abandoning all sense of camaraderie, in an appeal to 'Sauve qui peut!'. Raffet himself was deeply impacted by his experiences as a soldier in the National Guard, having served during a time of great social and political unrest. It's hard not to think about the French Revolution when viewing this piece. This work raises questions about the romanticized portrayals of military heroism often seen in art. The print seems to strip away the glory of warfare, exposing the raw, individualistic instinct for survival. It makes you consider who is left behind in such moments of desperation, and the stories of those who don't make it out.