French Revolution and the Statue of Liberty

What is the figure of Liberty bearing in the print?

What is the significance of the shattered remains in the foreground of the image?

What is the common thread among the nations leading the procession in the print?

What is the title of the Charter held by the figure of Liberty?

What is the primary theme of Sorrieu's utopian vision?

What is the medium in which Sorrieu expressed his vision?

Frédéric Sorrieu's Vision of a United World

In 1848, French artist Frédéric Sorrieu created a series of four prints depicting his dream of a world consisting of democratic and social republics.

The First Print

The first print shows people from Europe and America, including men and women of all ages and social classes, marching in a long train.
The people are paying homage to the statue of Liberty as they pass by it.
The statue of Liberty is personified as a female figure, bearing a torch of Enlightenment in one hand and the Charter of the Rights of Man in the other.
The torch of Enlightenment symbolizes knowledge and understanding, while the Charter of the Rights of Man represents the rights and freedoms of citizens.
In the foreground of the image, the shattered remains of absolutist institutions lie on the earth.

Representation of Nations

In Sorrieu's vision, the peoples of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified by their flags and national costume.
The United States and Switzerland, which were already nation-states at the time, lead the procession, ahead of the statue of Liberty.

Explore the vision of French artist Frédéric Sorrieu, who depicted a world of democratic and social republics in a series of prints. Learn about the symbolism of Liberty as a female figure in the context of the French Revolution.