During the 1890s Paris was marked by cultural and political turmoil, including anarchist bombings and assassinations. Félix Vallotton’s woodcuts capture this atmosphere of unrest while reflecting his left-wing political views, especially his disdain for the excesses of bourgeois society. In The demonstration Vallotton portrays the chaos of a dispersing crowd. By contrasting the densely populated upper portion of the composition with an empty foreground, Vallotton amplifies the scene’s sense of urgency and instability. While the authorities are not directly shown, their looming presence is implied by the panicked reactions of the fleeing protestors.