Terreur panique c. 1753 - 1813

"Terreur panique" is an engraving by Charles Boily, a French artist who lived through the tumultuous years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In this small print, we see two women in a garden gripped by fear, a ‘panic terror.’ The woman standing attempts to comfort the other who is collapsing. The garden statuary behind them seems almost monstrous. What could inspire such dread? Given the title, we might see a reference to the political ‘terrors’ of the era. The French Revolution, with its ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, devolved into the Reign of Terror, a period of intense political repression and violence. Women’s roles were fraught during this time, as they participated in revolutionary activities while simultaneously being excluded from full citizenship. Boily captures a moment of extreme emotional distress, a snapshot of the anxieties that permeated the lives of women during an era defined by radical change and profound uncertainty.