Who painted The Anarchist?

The Anarchist was painted by Félix Vallotton in 1892.

Where can I see The Anarchist?

The Anarchist is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Anarchist?

The Anarchist is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Anarchist

Félix Vallotton , 1892

The Anarchist is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Félix Vallotton’s 1892 print titled *The Anarchist* depicts a tense street tableau rendered in stark black lines against a pale backdrop. A suited figure kneels, gun pressed to his temple, while a crowd gathers around him. Behind the scene, shop fronts display signs such as “Vins Liqueurs” and “Boucherie,” and two uniformed police officers observe from a short distance.

Subject & Meaning

The composition suggests a moment of political violence, likely an attempted suicide or execution linked to anarchist activity, a theme that resonated in late‑19th‑century Europe. By isolating the central figure and surrounding him with indifferent onlookers, Vallotton emphasizes the social alienation and public spectacle surrounding radical acts, inviting reflection on the relationship between individual desperation and collective response.

Technique & Style

Vallotton employs a graphic approach reminiscent of woodcut prints, using bold, unmodulated outlines and large expanses of black and white. The simplified forms and flattened perspective reduce the scene to essential shapes, heightening the dramatic tension. This stark visual language, characteristic of his work, serves to underscore the narrative’s urgency without reliance on detailed modeling.

History & Provenance

Created in 1892, the print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Vallotton, a Swiss‑French painter and printmaker associated with the Nabis group, produced a series of socially charged images during this period, and *The Anarchist* exemplifies his engagement with contemporary political concerns.

Artist & collection

Artist

Félix Vallotton

Félix Édouard Vallotton (French: ; December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) was a Swiss and French painter and printmaker associated with the group of artists known as Les Nabis.