why was a nation visualised in the 18th
and l9th centuries in Europe. Exploin with
the help of two suitable examples.
Answers
Explanation:
18th and 19th century artists personification of a nation in allegories : (1) Artists represented nations as a female figure which did not stand for any particular woman but gave the abstract idea of the nation a concrete form. (2) Thus, female figures became an allegory of a nation. During the French Revolution, artists used female figures to portray ideas such as liberty, justice and republic through symbols. (3) In France, she was christened Marianne underlining the idea of a peoples nation with characteristics drawn from those of liberty and republic. (4) Her statues were erected in public places to remind the people of unity and persuade them to identify with it. Her images were also marked on coins and stamps. (5) In Germany, Germania became the allegory of the nation wearing a crown of German oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism