[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:04.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[intro: theme music]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.46,0:00:05.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>DR. STEVEN ZUCKER: We're in the Musée du Louvre
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.52,0:00:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're looking at Delacroix's 'Liberty Leading the People'.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.35,0:00:10.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is one of the most historically important
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.66,0:00:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,paintings in this collection.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.12,0:00:13.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>DR. BETH HARRIS: And it's important to remember
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.31,0:00:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think, how radical this painting was.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.30,0:00:20.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's republican revolutionary politics were palpable.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.94,0:00:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A little bit, perhaps, lost to us, I think, today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.42,0:00:25.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The painting shows the revolution of 1830
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.98,0:00:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the streets of Paris.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.82,0:00:29.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what we see is a barricade,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.06,0:00:31.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was a makeshift blockade.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.97,0:00:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: And remember that Paris at this time
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.50,0:00:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was really a medieval city.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.90,0:00:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the streets were narrow,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.54,0:00:37.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were winding,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.71,0:00:39.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was easy to block off French troops.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.71,0:00:41.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they were made of furniture.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.60,0:00:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were made of wagons.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.92,0:00:44.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were made especially of cobblestones.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.61,0:00:46.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you can see the cobblestones
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.19,0:00:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down in the very foreground.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.52,0:00:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: Over those cobblestones
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.12,0:00:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,strides a figure who one would not have
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.50,0:00:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually seen on the streets of Paris.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.84,0:00:56.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we know this mixture of the real and the unreal,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.00,0:00:59.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we have this allegorical figure of Liberty herself,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.61,0:01:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,carrying the French tricolor flag which represents
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.28,0:01:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,equality, fraternity, and liberty—
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.18,0:01:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the values of the revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.90,0:01:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: So in the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.79,0:01:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we would recognize this figure as the Statue of Liberty,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.60,0:01:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not a specific individual, but in fact
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.58,0:01:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the embodiment or personification of an idea,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.38,0:01:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the idea of freedom.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.36,0:01:18.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: So it's important to remember here
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.74,0:01:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what's happened is a monarchy
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.50,0:01:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been restored in France that was
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.67,0:01:24.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very politically oppressive.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.22,0:01:28.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the revolution in July of 1830 was against
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.18,0:01:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that restored King Charles the Tenth
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.52,0:01:34.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and brought into power a constitutional monarchy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.44,0:01:37.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Presumably, a king that would be more friendly
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.03,0:01:39.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the needs of the middle class.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.14,0:01:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: So there were three days of...
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.84,0:01:43.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,beyond protest, of open warfare
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.23,0:01:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the streets of Paris.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.36,0:01:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Charles the Tenth actually flees France.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.23,0:01:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And his cousin Louis Philippe is put on the throne.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.40,0:01:52.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Delacroix is watching this from his window.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.00,0:01:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: And the violence is really frightening.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.64,0:01:57.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have in the foreground dead members
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.99,0:01:59.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of both sides of this fight.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.93,0:02:01.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: The figure on the left is really brutal.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.72,0:02:04.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look closely, it's clear that he's in his night shirt.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.33,0:02:06.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of the practices of the repressive
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.12,0:02:08.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,government was to go after the opposition
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.83,0:02:11.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their homes, beat them to death,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.01,0:02:13.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and drag them into the streets as a reminder: "Do not do this."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.93,0:02:16.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a very famous Daumier: 'Rue Transnonain'
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.85,0:02:18.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that shows a family that has been killed
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.65,0:02:19.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their bedroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.64,0:02:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: And on the right,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.70,0:02:23.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a member of the other side of the king's forces.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.81,0:02:26.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who's dead or wounded in the foreground.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.60,0:02:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: And that's important because
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.65,0:02:29.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that's a reminder that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.15,0:02:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even the royal troops are not invincible.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.88,0:02:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: Liberty strides forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.74,0:02:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She's incredibly powerful.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.40,0:02:38.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And importantly, Delacroix is giving her
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.58,0:02:39.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kind of realism.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.99,0:02:43.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was very important, I think, in terms
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.28,0:02:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this message.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.20,0:02:45.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think if the figure had been
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.78,0:02:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an ancient Greek looking figure,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.18,0:02:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we would have lost some of the strength of this image.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.54,0:02:54.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We see her in profile, starkly lit,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.91,0:02:57.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a kind of Caravaggio-esque lighting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.13,0:03:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her arm forward with the flag, her other arm carrying
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.38,0:03:03.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bayonet, striding over the barricade.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.93,0:03:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A figure that leads the people on with this idea of liberty.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.56,0:03:10.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: So, I see exactly what you're saying.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.92,0:03:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I also disagree.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.16,0:03:14.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I think that Delacroix isn't viewing
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.37,0:03:16.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this figure with all of those very human attributes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.91,0:03:17.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're talking about.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.85,0:03:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of that sense of leadership and all of the
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.90,0:03:23.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allegorical power that she represents.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.08,0:03:24.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But at the same time, I think Delacroix
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.63,0:03:28.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is actually very consciously drawing on the ancient tradition.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.17,0:03:30.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The perfect profile, which is the most noble way
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.95,0:03:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of representing the face according to the classical world
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.05,0:03:35.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remind us of Roman coinage, for instance.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.67,0:03:38.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: So it's not as if Delacroix looked out
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.16,0:03:39.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of his window and actually saw this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.71,0:03:40.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's not just because of
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.93,0:03:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the allegorical figure of Liberty.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.62,0:03:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The figures are carefully composed in the shape of a pyramid.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.23,0:03:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Delacroix has also included very different
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.55,0:03:50.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,types of figures intentionally.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.53,0:03:53.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Showing the range of people who participated
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.45,0:03:55.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the revolution of 1830.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.29,0:03:57.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: So not only do you have the man wearing the top hat,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.31,0:03:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a member of the bourgeoisie, of the middle class,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.16,0:04:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but next to him is a craftsmen—a workman—
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.12,0:04:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in his shirt sleeves,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.66,0:04:06.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who probably can't afford that nice rifle.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.06,0:04:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they are together opposing the monarchy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.20,0:04:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: And so there was a real
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.37,0:04:13.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,political message here of the power of the people
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.54,0:04:16.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to overthrow a government.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.12,0:04:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the government of Louis Philippe that came
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.38,0:04:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into power purchased this painting,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.07,0:04:23.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but later this message started to feel
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.61,0:04:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little bit uncomfortable.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.41,0:04:26.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: A little too radical.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.37,0:04:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: A little too radical. In fact, the government of Louis Philippe,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.88,0:04:33.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although a constitutional monarchy, still only a very small fraction
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.35,0:04:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the French people were able to vote.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.42,0:04:37.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're talking about a government that was still
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.60,0:04:40.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,favorable only to the interests of real elite.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.51,0:04:44.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the power of the people that we see here in this painting
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.51,0:04:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,became dangerous, and the painting was taken down
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.33,0:04:50.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not exhibited again until the revolution of 1848.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.25,0:04:53.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>ZUCKER: We'll look, for instance, at the extreme right side of the canvas
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.33,0:04:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can make out the two towers of Notre Dame
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.17,0:04:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rising above the smoke of battle.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.32,0:05:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you look very closely you can see the tricolor
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.50,0:05:02.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on that symbol of the monarchy.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.84,0:05:06.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so this was such a radical image.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.31,0:05:09.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>>HARRIS: Liberty is moving directly into our space
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.98,0:05:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leading the people forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.64,0:05:13.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see why this painting ended up going
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.71,0:05:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,essentially into storage.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.34,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[ending: theme music]