Fire on the Leaders and Cavalry... 1830 - 1831

Auguste Raffet created "Fire on the Leaders and Cavalry..." as a lithograph, capturing a moment of revolutionary fervor. Raffet lived through a period of intense political upheaval in France, including the July Revolution of 1830, an event which profoundly influenced his artistic sensibilities. The print depicts a scene of urban conflict, seemingly championing the perspective of the common people engaged in the struggle. The lithograph highlights the stark contrast between the masses and the military, between the barricades of the people and the formal structures of state power. Notice how the figures are rendered with a gritty realism that departs from idealized depictions of heroism. There is an emphasis on the collective experience of the uprising. Raffet’s work invites us to consider the human cost of revolution, and the complex interplay between individual agency and collective action in moments of historical transformation. The print serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for social justice and political representation.