Apr 11, 2006

The Protest

The Protest

1893

Félix Vallotton

(Swiss French, 1865–1925)

Woodcut

Support: Wove paper taped to secondary support

Sheet: 22.9 x 33.5 cm (9 x 13 3/16 in.); Image: 20.4 x 31.9 cm (8 1/16 x 12 9/16 in.); Secondary Support: 37.6 x 58.1 cm (14 13/16 x 22 7/8 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1999.323

Catalogue raisonné: Vallotton and Georg 110; Stein and Karsham 87

Edition: 100 for L'Estampe Originale

Location

Description

Inspired by the flat space, tipped perspective, and use of pattern in Japanese color woodcuts, Vallotton exploited the contrast of rich black ink and the white of the paper for a dynamic image of a mass of figures surging forward as the police break up a political demonstration. Vallatton frequently focused on social issues, especially during the 1890s when street riots were common in Paris. The blankness of the lower-right corner of the print—fully one-third of its surface area—is a bold and original concept. As a terrified crowd rushes away from the authorities, Vallotton mitigated criticism of police violence with comic touches: the man who pauses to try to grab his top hat or the corpulent waddle of the figure with an umbrella. Many would imitate his woodcut style, but few could approach the sophistication of his artistic vision.

See also
Collection: 
PR - Woodcut
Department: 
Prints
Type of artwork: 
Print
Medium: 
Woodcut

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.