Question

How had the female figures become an allegory of the nation during the 19th century in Europe? Analyse.​

Answer 1

In the 19th century in Europe, the female figures became an allegory of the nation in the following ways.

• The artists, in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, wanted to represent a country, as if it was a person. In other words, they wanted to personify the nation. Nations were represented as female figures. The female form did not belong to any particular woman in real life. It was an abstract idea, which gave the nation a concrete form. The female figure became an allegory of a nation.
• In France, the female form was given the name of Marianne, which represented the nation. Her characteristics were red cap, the tricolour and the cockade, drawn from those of Liberty and the Republic.
• Similarly, Germania became the allegory of the German nation. Germania wears a crown of oak leaves because oak stands for heroism.

Answer 2

How had the female figures become an allegory of the nation during the 19th century in Europe? Analyse.