The Resistance of Paris
1870
Imagine the ultimate morale booster during a siege: that's what Edmond Morin delivered in 1870. This dramatic illustration shows a giant allegorical woman—representing the spirit of France—striding through battle smoke, flag in one hand and a bundle of rods (a fasces) in the other. She leads a ragtag group of soldiers over a banner reading 'Fluctuat nec mergitur,' which translates to 'Tossed but not sunk.' That phrase is still the official motto of Paris today, making this piece a timeless snapshot of the city's stubborn refusal to give up during the Franco-Prussian War.
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