Rousseau Portrait, Maurice Quentin de La Tour (1753)
The subject of this painting is Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, writer, and composer whose politics spurred the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe and the Americas. His political philosophy was greatly influential to the Jacobin Club during the French Revolution, as it encouraged human reasoning and the idea that leadership should be popular sovereignty—the people as the government.
The term “Fake News” originally referred to intentionally fabricated journalism content, which was sometimes satirical. The phrase took on a new definition when it became popularized in the United States’ political discourse during the 2016 presidential election. The term is now frequently used by President Donald Trump and his supporters in reference to news outlets and their stories, which run in opposition to him and his political stances.
Execution of Louis XVI on Place de Republique 1793, Pierre de Machy (1793)
King Louis XVI was found guilty of treason by conspiracy with foreign powers by the National Assembly and was sentenced to death. He was publicly executed via guillotine on January 21st, 1793 in Paris. Louis’s execution was made a spectacle, drawing large crowds as he was forced to process to the Place de Republique, where he was beheaded.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high,” in her speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. The speech endorsed her support of then-presidential candidate Hilary Clinton and vocalized the resiliency of Americans and the importance of having leaders who are accountable in the government.
Versailles Gardens, Pierre Patel (1668)
For generations, the Palace of Versailles served as the residence of the French monarchy and by the reign of Louis XVI, the palace and the surrounding estate also housed the royal court. This forced life at court to be a form of performance and political control, since the courtiers vied for the attention and favor of the king. For all of France, the Palace of Versailles was a symbol of absolute monarchy.
“Merde” is the French word for “shit”. On January 11th, 2018 president Donald Trump used the phrase “shithole countries” to describe Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations in a speech. After a widespread negative reaction in the press and by thousands of social media users, Trump denied using the strong language.
The Tricolour
The national tricolor flag of France was established in 1794 and was derived from the blue, white, and red cockades that were a popular symbol of the revolution. The blue and red were chosen to reflect the two-toned flag of the city of Paris, while white was chosen to nationalize the flag, as France had historically been symbolized by a white cross. The colors were also representative of the motto of the revolution: liberté was blue, égalité was white, and fraternité was red.
“Frexit” is an adaptation of the term “Brexit”, which refers to the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union, which is responsible for regulating inter-country economic and political relations in Europe. To leave the EU would remove its laws from practice in the UK. The term ultimately refers to a country’s decision to remove itself from a larger governing power.
Conquerors of Bastille before hotel de Ville 1789, Hippolyte Delaroche (1839)
This painting depicts the Storming of the Bastille. On July 14th, 1789, the fortress, which was a representation of the royal authority in Paris, was overtaken by revolutionaries. They were determined to claim the Bastille’s cache of gunpowder and weaponry, but conflict arose, and deaths accumulated on both sides. This is considered to be a turning point of the revolution.
Stronger Together is the title of a book published in 2016 by then-presidential candidate Hilary Clinton and her choice for vice president, Tim Kaine. The book aimed to both record the movements of their campaign and serve as a blueprint of their ideas for the future of America that were centered around the idea that the people are more impactful on their situation when unified.
Marie Antoinette, Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun (1778)
Born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, the Archduchess of Austria married King Louis XVI in 1770 and became Queen Marie Antoinette. This portrait was painted by her official court-painter, Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun and was so favored by the queen that she had copies sent to her brother Emperor Joseph II of Austria, Catherine the Great of Russia, and her own living quarters in the palace. It was a portrait specifically painted to capture the position of power, wealth, and extravagance of the queen through her ornate clothing and surroundings.
"Popularist" is a take on "populist" who claims to care for the needs of the common people; a believer in the populist philosophy. The adage of popular reflects the description of Marie's desire to be desired.
