John Berger Liberty Leading The People

Liberty Leading the People “Every image embodies a way of seeing, our perception or appreciation of an image depends also upon our own way of seeing” (Berger 142). In other words, Berger is saying if ten people look at the same piece of art each interpretation is going to be just as unique and different as the person looking at it. Based on one’s knowledge of the artist, time period, and the painting itself gives a whole different perspective than someone who doesn’t know any of the history. Also different life experiences can change the way a person can relate a painting to themselves. John Berger is known as one of Europe’s most influential Marxist critics. His belief is that to fully understand a painting you must understand the
The painting is showing us Liberty as the woman with the bright tricolored flag which resembles democracy and men of different social classes following her. The man in the top hat represents the bourgeoisie and the man with the cap on the other side of Liberty represents the labor class. This symbolizes the two classes coming together to fight against the monarchy and to fight for democracy. The blue in the skies shows hope and a new light that comes with the revolt against the king. The dead mound of people that she stands on is almost like a pedestal which glorifies Liberty even more. Also among the dead bodies there is a dead soldier which shows the weakness of the monarchy and the fierceness and power of the people following Liberty. The clashing dark and light colors as well as the vivid blues and reds also make the painting more energetic, more powerful, and more patriotic as Liberty leads the people to
Knowing an artist was depressed while they made a piece of art completely changes the effect if they were newly married and blossoming with joy. Anything reproduced can be used however the reproducer wants it to be used even if it completely changes the true meaning. Berger looks at the truth and facts about a piece of art instead of just the colors and shapes. He really tries to understand how the painter was feeling and what the painter was thinking when they were painting on the canvas we look at in a museum surrounded by many other people doing the same thing as you thinking about something entirely different. Art is what we make of it but knowing about the painter shows us that art is truly what the artist made it and that is how I think it should