La République Francaise - La Marianne Circa 1900

In this powerful and chaotic satirical illustration from around 1900, the figure of Marianne—personification of the French Republic—is shown at the center of a frenzied mob of men, all clawing desperately at the symbolic dish she carries. Wearing her iconic red Phrygian cap adorned with the revolutionary cockade, she embodies the ideals of liberté, égalité, fraternité—but in this scene, those ideals appear under siege. The poster is unsigned but draws from the visual language of the satirical press of the Belle Époque, particularly publications like L’Assiette au Beurre or Le Rire.

Rather than standing proudly atop a pedestal, Marianne is human, overwhelmed, and visibly strained. The crowd around her—composed of politicians, capitalists, clergy, and power-hungry bureaucrats—seems less interested in the republic’s democratic promise than in grabbing a share of its wealth. Their exaggerated expressions and grotesque scrambling create a suffocating sense of greed and political corruption. The entire scene critiques the opportunism and moral decay perceived in France’s Third Republic, when infighting, scandal, and colonial ambition often clouded the nation’s public image.

Marianne, a powerful symbol since the French Revolution, was frequently invoked to express both national pride and political critique. Here, she is less a triumphant allegory and more a victim of a system devouring itself. The dish she holds may represent the riches of the nation, the spoils of governance, or even the ideals of democracy itself—torn between too many self-interested hands. This depiction echoes growing public disillusionment at the turn of the century, especially following events like the Dreyfus Affair and the rapid rise of nationalist and anti-republican forces.

Visually crowded and emotionally charged, the poster turns Marianne’s dignity into a battlefield—forcing the viewer to confront the cost of political chaos and the fragility of republican values when confronted by unchecked ambition. A masterclass in political caricature, it remains a potent commentary on the struggle between idealism and reality in modern democratic life.

Politics - Revolt

Phrygian hat

Very good state