Group of three figures 1812 - 1814

Théodore Géricault sketched this study of three figures with graphite on paper sometime during his short but impactful career. Géricault lived through a period of immense social upheaval in France following the French Revolution, living until 1824, a time of political instability and social change. Although a sketch, it's difficult not to interpret this grouping of figures as an exploration of power dynamics and support. One figure is elevated by the others, it’s a sketch of those who prop up power? Géricault was deeply affected by the human condition, particularly the suffering of marginalized people, and you see this is in his focus on the human form and his willingness to depict intense emotional states. In my mind, this sketch serves as a reminder that even in the most precarious of situations, individuals can find strength in collective action. This piece prompts us to consider the ways in which we support and uplift one another, especially in times of adversity.