Édouard Manet (1832–1883)
The Barricade, 1871, printed 1884
Lithograph on cream chine collé on white wove paper
Sheet: 25 1/16 x 21 13/16 in. (63.7 x 55.4 cm)
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 2007.7.1
The Barricade represents the bloody repression of Parisian rebels — the Communards — by France's national guard in 1871. The sketch-like quality of the lithographic crayon makes it appear as if the artist captured the horrific action while it was occurring.