Art for the People: Building the Image of the Republic (1880–1920)

Event Description

An online art history lecture by Gilles Genty

Established in 1870, the French Republic was still finding its footing in the 1880s. To win hearts and minds for the new regime, the state turned to artists: statues filled public squares, busts of Marianne appeared in town halls, posters, ceramics, and everyday objects carried the republic's image — all in service of a single ambition: to educate future generations and build a shared national identity. A fascinating look at how a fledgling democracy harnessed the power of art for a collective political purpose.

Presented in French

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