two shirtless men climbing a tall pole, with another shirtless man bending to put his hands in a pot at LLC and a fourth shirtless man at bottom center watching climbers; woman with a dark blouse, seen from back, LRC; people looking out windows of four-story building in background; crowd on street in middle ground

Bastille Day on Rue Galande, 1891

Not on Viewexpand_more

Bastille Day is July 14 in France, and is similar to Independence Day, on July 4, in the United States. Both are days when festivities can outpace recollections of historical events. Here, neighborhood boys strip down and attempt to climb a greased pole in hopes of grabbing a sausage or a sweet suspended from a wagon wheel. The Rue Galande of the print’s title is one of the oldest streets on the Left Bank (south side) of the River Seine. Home to some of the city’s poorer residents, this area was an object of fascination for middle- and upper-class Parisians in the late 1800s. Those too timid to visit these neighborhoods in person could experience them through prints like this one.

Details
Title
Bastille Day on Rue Galande
Artist Life
Paris 1849–Domme, Dordogne 1918
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.35.597
Provenance
Estate of Auguste Lèpere (Lugt 141). Roger Marx, Lugt 2229 (1859-1913), Paris. [Eric G. Carlson Fine Prints and Drawings, New York, until 2008; sold in August for PLTO, to Drake]; Harry Drake, St. Paul (2008-d. 2012; bequeathed to MIA)
Catalogue Raisonne
Lotz-Brissonneau 22
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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two shirtless men climbing a tall pole, with another shirtless man bending to put his hands in a pot at LLC and a fourth shirtless man at bottom center watching climbers; woman with a dark blouse, seen from back, LRC; people looking out windows of four-story building in background; crowd on street in middle ground