The Paris Mob–A Barricade in Paris, from "The Graphic," vol. 3

Arthur Boyd Houghton

April 8, 1871 · Wood engraving · Drawings and Prints

Illustrated periodicals such as "The Graphic" in London and "Harper’s Weekly" in New York helped the British and American publics to visualize the events of the Paris Commune. Houghton’s depiction of a barricade appeared in both publications on April 8 and May 6, 1871 respectively. The description of the Communards as a "mob" makes clear that the publishers did not support the insurrection. As in the preceding revolutions of 1789, 1830, and 1848, the barricade, constructed with overturned carriages, furniture, and cobblestones, became a potent symbol of the uprising. The accompanying article employs a touristic tone, describing blithely how "these street fortifications have always been a great feature in a Parisian revolution."

Artist

Arthur Boyd Houghton

Date

April 8, 1871

Medium

Wood engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928