Defense of the Gauls 1855

Théodore Chassériau created this artwork of the Defense of the Gauls, but the date is unknown. This picture presents a romantic and heroic vision of Gaulish resistance. It is an image saturated in the visual codes of nineteenth-century French nationalism, painted at a time when the institutions of the nation-state were being consolidated. The painting shows Gaulish warriors protecting their families, appealing to the memory of an ancient nation being invaded by the forces of civilization. Chassériau’s history painting is an assertion of national pride, but it is also a product of French art institutions. Like many artists of his time, Chassériau was trained in the academy system, whose values are evident in his formal approach. To truly understand the meaning of art, we need to look at the archives of critics, collectors, and other artists who responded to it. This allows us to understand art not as the product of individual genius, but as a collective enterprise shaped by social and institutional forces.