Sheet of Sketches: Greyhounds; A Male and a Female Head in 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault created this graphite sketch, titled "Sheet of Sketches: Greyhounds; A Male and a Female Head," in France in the early 19th century. It's a fascinating glimpse into the artistic process of an artist known for his Romantic sensibilities, revealing his academic training but at the same time an attempt to break from those traditions. Greyhounds, symbols of nobility and hunting prowess, share space with human figures and architectural elements. The juxtaposition invites reflection on the social hierarchies of the time, where animals often reflected the status and aspirations of their owners. We see the influence of the French academy on the study of anatomy, but also the rise of interest in the ‘animal’ as a subject. By examining the visual vocabulary employed by Géricault, and by situating it in the context of early 19th-century France, we can start to see how artistic expression is shaped by prevailing social, cultural, and institutional forces.