Ossip Zadkine - Le Bal du 14 juillet

1922

68.3 x 52.4 cm

Gouache and watercolor on paper

 

More about this work on paper

Ossip Zadkine - Le Bal du 14 juillet gouache and watercolor on paper work was created in 1922.

14 July, known in France as La Fête Nationale or more commonly as le quatorze juillet, is the French National Day. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789, a key turning point in the French Revolution. The day symbolizes the end of absolute monarchy and the birth of the sovereign nation, making it a defining moment in French history.

The Bastille was a medieval fortress and prison in Paris that represented the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchy. On that day in 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, seeking weapons and gunpowder but also making a bold political statement against oppression. Though only seven prisoners were found inside, the symbolic power of this event was immense. It sparked widespread uprisings and contributed to the eventual overthrow of King Louis XVI.

Bastille Day has been officially celebrated since 1880. It represents not only the storming of the Bastille but also the Fête de la Fédération, held on 14 July 1790. That event marked the unity of the French people with a massive celebration in Paris. Thus, 14 July embodies both revolution and national unity.

Today, the day is marked across France with military parades, fireworks, parties, and communal meals. The largest and most famous celebration is the military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, attended by the President of France and broadcast nationwide. This parade, one of the oldest and most elaborate in the world, includes regiments from the French Army, Navy, Air Force, and often invited foreign troops.

In the evening, cities and towns across France host spectacular fireworks displays, with the one in Paris near the Eiffel Tower drawing huge crowds. Public dances, known as bals des pompiers (firemen’s balls), are also popular and usually organized by local fire stations.

Bastille Day is not only a celebration of France’s revolutionary history but also of its values: liberty, equality, and fraternity. It serves as a reminder of the struggle for democracy and the rights of citizens. While the revolutionary origins are dramatic, this holiday depicted here by Ossip Zadkine is joyful, patriotic, and unifying, celebrated by French citizens at home and abroad.

In essence, 14 July is a powerful symbol of the French identity and spirit—remembering a dramatic past while embracing unity and freedom.