Officier van de artillerie Possibly 1823

Théodore Géricault made this sketch, Officier van de artillerie, with graphite. Though undated, it exists as a window into a transformative period in French history and the artist’s own turbulent life. Géricault lived through the tumult of post-revolutionary France and the Napoleonic era. We feel the echoes of these dramatic shifts in his emotionally charged works. This sketch offers a glimpse into the military spirit of the time, portraying an artillery officer on horseback, sword raised, against a backdrop of battle. Yet, beyond the surface of military bravado, what stories lie beneath? What do we know of the lives of the soldiers, and the cost of war on society? Géricault’s personal struggles and his untimely death at just 32 years old lend a poignant layer to his art. His work often explores themes of mortality, ambition, and the human condition under duress. This piece invites us to reflect on the complex intersections of power, identity, and lived experience during a time of intense social and political upheaval.