The Anarchist

The work depicts a dramatic street scene in Paris where a man in a dark suit kneels on the pavement, holding a revolver to his own head.

Created in 1892, The Anarchist is a woodcut by the Swiss-French artist Félix Vallotton, produced during his pivotal period of graphic innovation within the Nabis movement. The work depicts a dramatic street scene in Paris where a man in a dark suit kneels on the pavement, holding a revolver to his own head. He is surrounded by a crowd of onlookers and two uniformed police officers who observe the scene with detached composure.

The composition is defined by Vallotton's signature style: high-contrast black ink against a white background, utilizing sharp, simplified lines and flat areas of tone to create a stark, almost theatrical atmosphere. Storefronts in the background, bearing signs such as 'Vins Liqueurs' and 'Boucherie,' ground the event in a specific urban reality. This piece is part of Vallotton's series of woodcuts that addressed contemporary social and political issues, reflecting the anxiety surrounding anarchist violence in late 19th-century France.

The print exemplifies the artist's ability to merge the decorative qualities of Japanese woodblock prints with a modern, psychological narrative, establishing his reputation as a master of the medium before he turned fully to painting.