CHY 4U1 – Image Analysis
The French Revolution – French Peasantry
Discussing the Illustration:
1. This drawing is from the late 1700s in France. It shows a strong peasant woman carrying
two other women on her back. How does the drawing make it clear that one of these two
women stands for the Catholic Church in France and the other stands for the nobles as a
class?
2. From what you know about France in the late 1700s, can you explain why the peasant
woman is shown carrying these two particular figures? In what ways could these figures
said to be “riding on the backs of the peasants”?
3. From the way each of these figures is drawn, what do you think the artist’s opinion was of
the peasants, the French clergy, and the nobles? Explain your answer.
4. From what you have learned so far about the French revolution, how good a job do you
think this drawing does in explaining why that revolution began? Are there any causes of
the revolution that the cartoon does NOT comment on? Explain your answers.