An Exploration in Representation and Reality: The Divide in Women's Portrayals During the French Revolution of 1789

Abstract

This essay examines artistic representations of French women in the period contemporaneous to the French Revolution of 1789. Through the analysis of literary texts and visual art, a better understanding of the social perception of women in this time period can be achieved. Sources like novels, narratives, newspaper accounts, prints, etchings, and sculptures are used to show a distinct dichotomy in the portrayals of French women. In the artistic work from Britain, Ireland, Germany, and France, women who were active participants in the revolutionary proceedings were disparaged for being violent and ruthless, while women who were limited to the private sphere where glorified as mothers and moral anchors. Additionally, this essay argues that the inclusion of creative texts, such as these, is important for developing a more complete view of social ideas in historical periods.