How Liberty Led the People
Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix is a vivid Romantic masterpiece capturing the spirit of France’s July 1830 Revolution. Painted in the immediate aftermath of the uprising, the work blends historical realism with allegory, featuring a fierce Liberty personified as Marianne leading citizens of all classes over barricades. Rich in symbolism—from the tricolor flag to Parisian landmarks—it broke from Neoclassical tradition to embrace passion, movement, and modern political meaning. Though initially controversial, the painting has become a universal emblem of revolution and freedom, influencing art, culture, and global iconography for nearly two centuries.