1831
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Album of 1831: Freedom or death! is a 1831 by Auguste Raffet, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic street battle. Men with guns and hats are fighting, some standing, others kneeling or falling. A flag with unclear writing flaps in the background, and buildings loom behind the chaos. Rocks, debris, and overturned objects litter the ground. The print’s title at the bottom reads *"À mort pour la liberté!"*—"Death to tyranny!"—hinting at a fight for freedom. The artist packed the scene with movement and drama, making it feel urgent. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used emotion and action in their work.
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.
See the richer artist page
