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Personification Collection (#3)

Personification is a powerful artistic technique that breathes life into inanimate objects, concepts, and even nations

Background imagePersonification Collection: Fortune Riding on a Wheel, 16th century. Creator: Anon

Fortune Riding on a Wheel, 16th century. Creator: Anon
Fortune Riding on a Wheel, 16th century

Background imagePersonification Collection: Personification of painting, 1856-1912. Creator: Abraham Henriques de Souza

Personification of painting, 1856-1912. Creator: Abraham Henriques de Souza
Personification of painting, 1856-1912. In honour of the painter Johannes Hilverdink on his 70th birthday

Background imagePersonification Collection: L'Illustration; 13, Rue Saint-Georges, Paris. Decembre 1916. Promotionnel, 1916. Creator: Unknown

L'Illustration; 13, Rue Saint-Georges, Paris. Decembre 1916. Promotionnel, 1916. Creator: Unknown
L'Illustration; 13, Rue Saint-Georges, Paris. Decembre 1916. Promotionnel, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

Background imagePersonification Collection: Justice, 1802. Creator: Pieter Gaal

Justice, 1802. Creator: Pieter Gaal
Justice, 1802

Background imagePersonification Collection: Industry, 1845-1892. Creator: Pierre Victor Galland

Industry, 1845-1892. Creator: Pierre Victor Galland
Industry, 1845-1892

Background imagePersonification Collection: The Choice between Virtue and Passion, 1590-1680. Creator: Unknown

The Choice between Virtue and Passion, 1590-1680. Creator: Unknown
The Choice between Virtue and Passion, 1590-1680

Background imagePersonification Collection: The Sick Child, c.1664-c.1666. Creator: Gabriel Metsu

The Sick Child, c.1664-c.1666. Creator: Gabriel Metsu
The Sick Child, c.1664-c.1666. A worried mother looks at her young daughter, slumped listlessly on her lap. Metsu chose an unusual subject

Background imagePersonification Collection: Two Infants, Personifications of Spring and Autumn, 1650-c.1670. Creator: Thomas Willeboirts

Two Infants, Personifications of Spring and Autumn, 1650-c.1670. Creator: Thomas Willeboirts
Two Infants, Personifications of Spring and Autumn, 1650-c.1670

Background imagePersonification Collection: Que diable est-ce qu'ils font la-haut!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier

Que diable est-ce qu'ils font la-haut!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Que diable est-ce qu'ils font la-haut!, 19th century. Personification of the River Rhine: What the devil are they doing up there

Background imagePersonification Collection: Dernier conseil des ex-ministres, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier

Dernier conseil des ex-ministres, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Dernier conseil des ex-ministres, 19th century. Final council of ex-ministers. Marianne, the national personification of the French Republic, enters as politicians fight amongst themselves

Background imagePersonification Collection: Two A Day, Los Angeles, 1938. Creator: Unknown

Two A Day, Los Angeles, 1938. Creator: Unknown
Two A Day, Los Angeles, 1938. Something to boast about! - "Two A Day"...Hollywood Playhouse..."Run Little Chillun"...Mayan Theatre'

Background imagePersonification Collection: 14 Juillet 1880, inauguration du monument à la République, 1882. Creator: Alfred Philippe Roll

14 Juillet 1880, inauguration du monument à la République, 1882. Creator: Alfred Philippe Roll
14 Juillet 1880, inauguration du monument a la Republique, 1882. 14 July 1880, inauguration of the monument to the Republic

Background imagePersonification Collection: Un jour de fête, 1882. Creator: Georges Jeannin

Un jour de fête, 1882. Creator: Georges Jeannin
Un jour de fete, 1882. Festival. Bust of Marianne decorated with garlands of flowers to celebrate 14 July, Bastille Day

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris conviant le monde à ses fêtes, c.1890

Esquisse pour l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris conviant le monde à ses fêtes, c.1890
Esquisse pour l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris conviant le monde a ses fetes, c.1890. Personification of the City of Paris

Background imagePersonification Collection: La République, between 1848 and 1849. Creator: Jean-Leon Gerome

La République, between 1848 and 1849. Creator: Jean-Leon Gerome
La Republique, between 1848 and 1849. The (French) Republic. Allegorical figure with olive branch and sword, a lion at her feet, with rainbow and star above. At her waist the tricolour

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : Le Berry, 1891

Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : Le Berry, 1891. Creator: François Emile Ehrmann
Esquisse pour la salle des Fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : Le Berry, 1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour l'escalier d'honneur de la mairie de Pantin : Le Travail sous l'égide... 1886

Esquisse pour l'escalier d'honneur de la mairie de Pantin : Le Travail sous l'égide... 1886
Esquisse pour l'escalier d'honneur de la mairie de Pantin : Le Travail sous l'egide de la Republique amene l'abondance et la prosperite (plafond), 1886

Background imagePersonification Collection: La République, esquisse pour le concours de 1848, 1848. Creator: Alexandre-Marie Colin

La République, esquisse pour le concours de 1848, 1848. Creator: Alexandre-Marie Colin
La Republique, esquisse pour le concours de 1848, 1848. Personification of the French Republic

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the dome above the escalier des fêtes in the Hôtel de Ville...between 1888 and 1899

Sketch for the dome above the escalier des fêtes in the Hôtel de Ville...between 1888 and 1899
Sketch for the dome above the escalier des fetes in the Hotel de Ville, Paris, between 1888 and 1899. Allegorical figure wearing a red cap (Marianne, personification of France), holding a blue flag

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for (town hall?), rue Paul-Bert...Allegory to the dead of the First World War, c.1921

Sketch for (town hall?), rue Paul-Bert...Allegory to the dead of the First World War, c.1921
Sketch for (town hall?), rue Paul-Bert, Saint-Mande : Allegory to the dead of the First World War, c.1921. Personification of the Republic, soldier holding the French flag

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris... c.1892-1895

Esquisse pour la salle des fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris... c.1892-1895
Esquisse pour la salle des fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : La Ville de Paris conviant le monde a ses fetes, between 1892 and 1895. Personification of the City of Paris

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for reception room in the Hôtel de ville, Paris, 1892. Creator: Achille Louis Joseph Sirouy

Sketch for reception room in the Hôtel de ville, Paris, 1892. Creator: Achille Louis Joseph Sirouy
Sketch for reception room in the Hotel de ville, Paris, 1892. Allegories and deities on a cloud, coat of arms of the city of Paris

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the Salle des Fêtes de in the Hôtel de Ville, Paris : La Champagne, c.1891

Sketch for the Salle des Fêtes de in the Hôtel de Ville, Paris : La Champagne, c.1891. Creator: François Emile Ehrmann
Sketch for the Salle des Fetes de in the Hotel de Ville, Paris : La Champagne, c.1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the salle des prévôts in the Hôtel de Ville, Paris: Allegory...c.1852

Sketch for the salle des prévôts in the Hôtel de Ville, Paris: Allegory...c.1852. Creator: Léon Riesener
Sketch for the salle des prevots (provosts hall) in the Hotel de Ville, Paris: Allegory of the 2 December 1852, c.1852. The official declaration of the Second Empire was made at the Hotel de Ville

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la mairie du 6ème arrondissement de Paris : Paris, cité d'art, between 1904 and 1906

Esquisse pour la mairie du 6ème arrondissement de Paris : Paris, cité d'art, between 1904 and 1906
Esquisse pour la mairie du 6eme arrondissement de Paris : Paris, cite d'art, between 1904 and 1906. Personification of Paris, city of art, is crowned with a laurel wreath, angels blowing trumpets

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Lorraine, 1891

Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Lorraine, 1891. Creator: François Emile Ehrmann
Esquisse pour la salle des Fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : La Lorraine, 1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : L'Auvergne, 1891

Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : L'Auvergne, 1891
Esquisse pour la salle des Fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : L'Auvergne, 1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Bourgogne, 1891

Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Bourgogne, 1891. Creator: François Emile Ehrmann
Esquisse pour la salle des Fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : La Bourgogne, 1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Bretagne, 1891

Esquisse pour la salle des Fêtes de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : La Bretagne, 1891. Creator: François Emile Ehrmann
Esquisse pour la salle des Fetes de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : La Bretagne, 1891. Personification of region in France

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the town hall at Pantin : Peace and the Town of Pantin, 1886. Creator: Francois Schommer

Sketch for the town hall at Pantin : Peace and the Town of Pantin, 1886. Creator: Francois Schommer
Sketch for the town hall at Pantin : Peace and the Town of Pantin, (ceiling design), 1886. (Esquisse pour la mairie de Pantin : La Paix et la Ville de Pantin (plafond)

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the Lobau gallery of the Hotel de Ville in Paris: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, 1890

Sketch for the Lobau gallery of the Hotel de Ville in Paris: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, 1890

Background imagePersonification Collection: Sketch for the town hall of the 19th arrondissement of the City of Paris: Marriage, 1880

Sketch for the town hall of the 19th arrondissement of the City of Paris: Marriage, 1880. Creator: Paul Albert Besnard
Sketch for the town hall of the 19th arrondissement of the City of Paris: Marriage, 1880

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la salle des mariages de la mairie du 19ème arrondissement de la Ville... 1880

Esquisse pour la salle des mariages de la mairie du 19ème arrondissement de la Ville... 1880
Esquisse pour la salle des mariages de la mairie du 19eme arrondissement de la Ville de Paris : Le Triomphe de la Republique (Plafond), 1880

Background imagePersonification Collection: Esquisse pour la mairie du 6ème arrondissement de Paris. Liberté. Egalité. Fraternité, 1887

Esquisse pour la mairie du 6ème arrondissement de Paris. Liberté. Egalité. Fraternité, 1887
Esquisse pour la mairie du 6eme arrondissement de Paris. Liberte. Egalite. Fraternite, 1887. Rights of Man

Background imagePersonification Collection: Allegory of the City of Paris, late 19th century. Creator: Joseph Blanc

Allegory of the City of Paris, late 19th century. Creator: Joseph Blanc
Allegory of the City of Paris, late 19th century. (Allegorie de la Ville de Paris)

Background imagePersonification Collection: Allegorical Female Figure with Lion, Lamb, Two Putti, n.d. Creator: Frederic Leighton

Allegorical Female Figure with Lion, Lamb, Two Putti, n.d. Creator: Frederic Leighton
Allegorical Female Figure with Lion, Lamb, Two Putti, n.d

Background imagePersonification Collection: The Arrival of the Muses of Art at Architecture, 1890. Creator: Jan Toorop

The Arrival of the Muses of Art at Architecture, 1890. Creator: Jan Toorop
The Arrival of the Muses of Art at Architecture, 1890

Background imagePersonification Collection: Fortune Distributing Her Gifts, 1590. Creator: Jan Muller

Fortune Distributing Her Gifts, 1590. Creator: Jan Muller
Fortune Distributing Her Gifts, 1590

Background imagePersonification Collection: Aether, plate six from Demogorgon and the Dieties, c.1588-90. Creator: Hendrik Goltzius

Aether, plate six from Demogorgon and the Dieties, c.1588-90. Creator: Hendrik Goltzius
Aether, plate six from Demogorgon and the Dieties, c.1588-90

Background imagePersonification Collection: Fame Blowing on a Trumpet, n.d. Creator: Jacopo Palma

Fame Blowing on a Trumpet, n.d. Creator: Jacopo Palma
Fame Blowing on a Trumpet, n.d

Background imagePersonification Collection: Study for Venice Receiving Homage and Gifts from Brescia, Udine, Padua, and... c.1593

Study for Venice Receiving Homage and Gifts from Brescia, Udine, Padua, and... c.1593. Creator: Jacopo Palma
Study for Venice Receiving Homage and Gifts from Brescia, Udine, Padua, and Verona, with Doge Francesco Venier Presenting Them, c.1593

Background imagePersonification Collection: Roundel with Justice and Prudence, n.d. Creator: Jan Baptist Weenix

Roundel with Justice and Prudence, n.d. Creator: Jan Baptist Weenix
Roundel with Justice and Prudence, n.d

Background imagePersonification Collection: The Nursery of Shakespeare, 1810. Creator: Moses Haughton

The Nursery of Shakespeare, 1810. Creator: Moses Haughton
The Nursery of Shakespeare, 1810

Background imagePersonification Collection: Ignorance and Mercury, n.d. Creator: School of Andrea Mantegna

Ignorance and Mercury, n.d. Creator: School of Andrea Mantegna
Ignorance and Mercury, n.d

Background imagePersonification Collection: Harpy, 1894. Creator: Edvard Munch

Harpy, 1894. Creator: Edvard Munch
Harpy, 1894

Background imagePersonification Collection: Time Clipping the Wings of Love, c. 1765. Creator: James McArdell

Time Clipping the Wings of Love, c. 1765. Creator: James McArdell
Time Clipping the Wings of Love, c. 1765

Background imagePersonification Collection: The Thames, or The Triumph of Navigation, 1791, published 1792. Creator: James Barry

The Thames, or The Triumph of Navigation, 1791, published 1792. Creator: James Barry
The Thames, or The Triumph of Navigation, 1791, published 1792

Background imagePersonification Collection: Study for Commerce or the Triumph of the Thames, 1767/80. Creator: James Barry

Study for Commerce or the Triumph of the Thames, 1767/80. Creator: James Barry
Study for Commerce or the Triumph of the Thames, 1767/80




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Personification is a powerful artistic technique that breathes life into inanimate objects, concepts, and even nations. From the explosive brilliance of "A Star Explodes" by Norman Lindsay to the resilience embodied in "Long Live Estonia, " personification captivates our imagination. In an 1866 cartoon titled "Deaths Dispensary, " water pollution takes on a sinister form as it becomes the source of disease, reminding us of the consequences of environmental negligence. The Austro-Hungarian Empire proudly waves its flag while personified, symbolizing its strength and identity. Dressed in ancient Roman costume, we witness the embodiment of history itself. Guiseppe Heintz's 17th-century map of Venice transports us back in time to a city alive with stories waiting to be discovered. Lord have mercy on London. A contemporary English woodcut depicts the Great Plague of 1665 as death rides upon a pale horse, illustrating how they are evoke fear and urgency. Finland emerges as a vibrant character through "The Personification of Finland (Suomi), " representing national pride and unity. Gustave Doré's wood engraving portrays Death on his pale horse from Revelation 6:8, showcasing how personifying abstract ideas can make them tangible and relatable. During World War II, Edward T. Grigware's poster warns against careless talk with the phrase "Keep Mum - The World Has Ears. " This clever use reminds us that words hold power beyond measure. Lastly, Kiyochika Kobayashi's woodcut presents a thought-provoking image: a whale dining on Russian sailors while three fish symbolize Japan. Here we see how nations are given human-like qualities for political commentary or storytelling purposes. Through these diverse examples spanning centuries and cultures, we witness how artists employ personification to engage our emotions and provoke contemplation about complex issues such as pollution or war.