Artwork
Album of 1831: I want to kill one of Polignac's soldiers. They did not spare my child (Historic)
Album of 1831: I want to kill one of Polignac's soldiers. They did not spare my child (Historic) is a print by the Romanticist artist Auguste Raffet. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This 1830 lithograph, 'Album of 1831: I want to kill one of Polignac's soldiers.
About this work
This sketch shows a chaotic street scene. Soldiers in uniforms stand around. One woman holds a child, looking angry. A man lies on the ground near a broken cart. Buildings loom in the background, but everything is dark and smudgy.
The text at the bottom says something about killing soldiers. It’s from 1830, but the artist made it look raw and urgent.
Want to know more? Check out Romanticism.
Overview
This 1830 lithograph, 'Album of 1831: I want to kill one of Polignac's soldiers. They did not spare my child,' is a work by Auguste Raffet, a French illustrator and lithographer.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic street scene during the July Revolution, conveying a sense of anger and resistance. A woman holding a child appears enraged, while soldiers and a fallen man near a broken cart add to the turmoil.
Technique & Style
The lithograph's dark, smudgy quality gives it a raw and urgent feel, characteristic of Raffet's style. Trained under Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, Raffet's work reflects his skill in capturing intense, dramatic scenes.
History & Provenance
Created in 1830, the print is part of Raffet's oeuvre as a retrospective painter of the Empire period. It is now held in the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
The work is associated with the July Revolution, a period of political upheaval in France. Raffet's depiction of resistance and violence reflects the tumultuous atmosphere of the time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.
