The Ballad 1885

Gustave Moreau painted The Ballad using oil on canvas. Moreau lived in Paris during a period of rapid change and political upheaval. The revolutions of 1830 and 1848, the Franco-Prussian War, and the Paris Commune all shaped a political and cultural landscape that made many question traditional values. Moreau’s painting invokes the medieval world of knights and chivalry, but it does so in a way that critiques the institutions of his own time. Here a knight in shining armor sweeps a maiden away on horseback. But she does not seem to be going willingly. The dark castle and threatening sky suggest that the knight's motives may not be so pure. Is this an abduction rather than a romance? The historian might look to medieval ballads and romances for clues to interpreting Moreau’s image. But an understanding of the social and political context of 19th-century France is also necessary. The painting reflects a conservative moment in French history, one in which traditional hierarchies were being challenged.