Groepsportret met leden van de Voorlopige Regering van de Franse Republiek 1848

Antoine Maurin created this lithograph of the members of the Provisional Government of the French Republic. The French Second Republic was a brief period of political upheaval in France, lasting from 1848 to 1852. Following the abdication of King Louis-Philippe in the wake of the February Revolution, a provisional government was established to manage the transition to a new republic. This lithograph seeks to capture the spirit of revolutionary change, but the formal arrangement of figures and the classical aesthetic also evoke a sense of continuity with earlier French traditions. To understand the significance of this moment in French history, one might consult contemporary newspapers, political pamphlets, and the writings of key figures involved in the revolution. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context, and by exploring these historical resources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex forces that shaped the art of this period.