A guide to reading images

Widespread use of the printing press, beginning in the

early modern era, as well as new engraving techniques,

allowed for the development of a popular press and the

timely distribution of news, for maybe the first time in

history.

Newspapers, broadsheets, and pamphlets contained not only

words, but also images, allowing for a wide variety of literacy

(even if you couldn’t read, you could understand the pictures.)

These images were factual, satirical, fantastic, and metaphoric;

they both illustrated and extended the information presented in the

news stories.

Images might be commissioned by a particular political party in

order to glorify themselves, or to slander another group. Images

often made reference to well-known myths, stories, or allegorical

symbols, in order to add meaning to the picture. Explanatory titles

and captions, sometimes very long, were often added.

...images do not simply show what happened. They give the events political meaning and importance.

(from “How to Read Images,” Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution, chnm.gmu.edu)

Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre, 1770.

Documentary or propaganda?

• soldiers vs. colonists• where is Crispus Attacks?• after 9pm on a winter night• print for sale 3 weeks after incident• identical to another by Henry Pelham

Siege of the Bastille, 14 July, 1789. Eyewitness painting by Claude Cholat.

Storming of the Bastille, 1789 (Jean-Pierre Houël)

The Bastille was almost entirely destroyed by November, 1789. These foundations were some of what remained: uncovered in 1899 during the building of the Metro.

Execution of Louis XVI, 21 January 1793 (engraving published 1794)

English engraving of the same subject, published 1798.

What are some of the differences you see?

Burning of Cape Francais, 1802 (French engraving from 1815.)

Leclerc’s veterans storm Snake Gully, 1802 (illustration adapted from an engraving by Karl Girardet.)

Battle of Vertieres, 1803 (French engraving from 1845.)

Statue of Vercingetorix (legendary chief of the Celts,) erected 1865 by Napoleon on the supposed site of his surrender to Julius Caesar.

The inscription reads:

La Gaule unieFormant une seule nationAnimée d'un même esprit,Peut défier l'Univers.

Gaul united,Forming a single nationAnimated by a common spirit,Can defy the Universe.

Suffragette pennies, early 20th century (defacing coins was a serious criminal offence then--you could go to prison for it.)