Lion Devouring a Horse c. 19th century

Curator: This is Théodore Géricault's "Lion Devouring a Horse," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's brutally stark—that contrast of dark ink against the white of the paper really heightens the drama. Curator: Géricault's Romanticism often explored power dynamics, not just between humans, but here, between species. The print resonates with anxieties surrounding social hierarchies and the vulnerable position of the marginalized. Editor: The composition, though, is so carefully arranged. The diagonal of the horse's body leads our eye right to the apex of violence, that clash of jaws and mane. Curator: Absolutely, and we can consider how this imagery might speak to contemporary issues of exploitation and the struggle for survival in various contexts. Editor: A fitting end, highlighting how form and content converge so powerfully. Curator: Indeed, a reminder of the enduring relevance of art in understanding our world.