French Liberty – British Slavery 1792

James Gillray created this hand-colored etching, "French Liberty-British Slavery" in 1792. It’s a potent piece of political commentary reflecting the tumultuous times of the French Revolution and Britain's response to it. Divided into two distinct scenes, the print uses caricature to contrast life in France and Britain. On the left, "French Liberty" is portrayed as impoverished and ragged, gnawing on raw onions, with the map in the background indicating that France has territorial ambitions. In stark contrast, "British Slavery" features a corpulent man lavishly dining on a roast, seemingly oblivious to any hardship, but complaining about the Ministry. Gillray critiques perceptions of freedom and enslavement. He turns the revolutionary rhetoric on its head, suggesting that supposed French liberty is actually deprivation, while British "slavery" is relative comfort, reflecting a deep skepticism towards revolutionary ideals and a defense of the British status quo.