London Visitor at Trafalgar Square

The most interesting of the trips for me was our very first to Trafalgar Square. This is also the site of the famous painting which we discussed, James Tissot’s “London Visitors.” As seen in the painting, the site immediately commands great attention and admiration. The square is a tribute to the British victory over the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic wars. The design evokes a feeling of power, pride, and accomplishment. Similar to the characters in the forefront of the painting, I was captured by the giant monument on which Admiral Nelson, hero of the battle, is perched. The monument glorifies violence and competition, as demonstrated by the use of French cannons to be used as the materials for the ferocious lions at the base of the pillar. Not only did the British beat the French, they added insult to injury. In Tissot’s painting, it seems that some are more impressed with the aspects of glory and victory than others. The man, who appears to be looking through notes, is trying to get more information on what he is looking at. The woman, presumably his spouse, is looking elsewhere, possibly unmotivated by the scene of the square. The boy, with his youthful curiosity, is completely encapsulated by the square in front of him. This represented well the kinds of reactions I saw as I walked around the square. There were many who were looking down on their phones, whether it be to try to get more information about where they were or perhaps about something else. There were those who seemed to be uninterested with the square and the monument, walking around unamused next to a friend or family member who was soaking it in. Then, there were those who, like me, were completely focused on the square and especially the monument of Nelson. This painting sticks with me because I think people’s reactions to sights like these have not changed over time.