Prairial (20 mei – 18 juni) 1792 - 1794

Salvatore Tresca created this print, Prairial, around the late 18th or early 19th century. The composition, in monochrome, is dominated by a neoclassical figure posed against a detailed yet soft pastoral backdrop. The figure’s draped clothing and serene expression evoke a sense of classical calm. Tresca’s use of line and shading gives the print a structured yet ethereal quality. The background depicts agricultural activity which, combined with the figure, likely references Prairial, a month in the French Revolutionary Calendar associated with harvests. Tresca thus evokes an allegorical association with nature and civic virtue. Notice how the print balances realism with idealism through both its central figure and its thematic content. This alignment reflects the broader cultural shifts during and after the French Revolution that sought to align classical ideals with contemporary society. The careful composition and the thematic elements work together to invite viewers to consider the relationships between nature, civic duty, and revolutionary thought.