Vrouw valt neer terwijl een schutter zijn geweer op haar richt 1830 - 1880

Adolphe Mouilleron made this lithograph, "Vrouw valt neer terwijl een schutter zijn geweer op haar richt", which translates to "Woman falls as a gunman points his rifle at her," sometime in the mid-19th century. It is rendered in shades of grey. The scene depicts a dramatic moment, seemingly plucked from historical fiction, that reflects the era's fascination with the past and its complex moral codes. The image creates meaning through its use of costume, architecture, and the body language of the figures depicted. Made in France, during a time of significant social and political upheaval, this work likely comments on the social structures of its time, particularly around issues of power and vulnerability. To understand this artwork better, we might look into the popular literature and theater of the time. Further research into the artist’s biography and the institutions that supported him would also shed light on its meaning.