Christine Mollier

Christine Mollier's research delves into the events surrounding the Paris Commune of 1871, focusing on the widespread fires that devastated the city during "Bloody Week." These fires, largely set by Communards as government forces advanced, resulted in the destruction of significant public buildings and private residences. Mollier examines the varied interpretations of these acts, ranging from desperate military tactics to symbolic political defiance and revolutionary expression.

The aftermath of the fires significantly shaped the historical memory of the Commune. The destruction was used by supporters of the Versailles government to portray the Communards as savage, fueling myths like that of the "pétroleuses" (female arsonists). The physical ruins and the loss of archival materials also had a lasting impact, creating gaps in historical documentation and becoming subjects of artistic and touristic interest. Mollier's work highlights how these events became a central, contested element in understanding the Commune's legacy.

The Paris Commune of 1871 was marked by extensive destruction, particularly during "Bloody Week" (May 21-28), when government forces recaptured the city from the Communards. The fires, primarily initiated by Communards between May 22 and 26, consumed numerous public buildings like the Tuileries Palace and Hôtel de Ville, as well as private homes. These acts have been interpreted as a desperate military strategy, a potent symbol of political defiance, or a raw form of revolutionary expression. The decision to burn these structures occurred during the Commune's final chaotic days, when centralized authority had collapsed, leading to many actions being taken on local initiative amidst the collapse.

The use of fire during the Commune became a focal point in the ensuing struggle over its historical narrative. For proponents of the Versailles government, the destruction served as evidence of the Communards' supposed barbarity, with a particular emphasis placed on the role of women, leading to the myth of "pétroleuses." The physical ruins that remained were not immediately rebuilt and became sites of artistic fascination and tourist attraction. The loss of official records and archives due to the fires also created significant voids in Paris's institutional memory, underscoring the profound and lasting impact of this period of conflict and destruction.

The period leading up to and including the Commune was characterized by intense conflict, beginning with the Prussian siege of Paris from September 1870 to March 1871, followed by a civil conflict between the Commune and the Versailles government. During the Prussian siege, artillery bombardment caused damage to residential areas. The fear of urban destruction, rooted in revolutionary history, contributed to a resolve among some Communards to reshape or even destroy the existing urban landscape. The strategic use of barricades, constructed from everyday materials, blurred public and private space, signaling a broader revolutionary impulse that ultimately culminated in the deliberate burning of parts of Paris during the Commune's final days.