Sheet of Sketches: Soldiers, Horses and a Landscape 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault made this sketch of soldiers, horses and a landscape with graphite on paper, sometime in the early 19th century. Géricault came of age during a period of immense social upheaval. The French Revolution had shaken the foundations of the old order. This sheet of sketches offers a glimpse into the artist's fascination with military power and its pageantry, reflecting the ongoing conflicts that shaped the political landscape of Europe at the time. Made in France, a country with a strong military tradition and a history of imperial ambitions, Géricault's sketches also invite reflection on the human cost of war. While not explicitly critical, his art humanizes the figures involved in the theatre of war. Historians can use military records, fashion studies, and social histories, to enrich our understanding of Géricault's art. Meaning is always reliant on the cultural context in which the artwork was made.