Sheet of Sketches: three Landscapes, Horses, and Hooves 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault created this sheet of sketches, three Landscapes, Horses, and Hooves, using graphite on paper. The composition is divided, featuring landscape studies at the top and sketches of horses and hooves below. The landscapes are delineated with quick, sparse lines, save for the leftmost study where the graphite is more dense, creating dark masses of trees. Géricault’s approach here is deeply structural. We can observe how he breaks down complex forms into essential lines and shapes. The sketches of horses and hooves reveal an analytical focus on movement and anatomy. Each line seems to capture the dynamic tension of the animal’s form, while the repetition of hoof studies suggests a systematic exploration of equine locomotion. This sketch embodies a shift towards a more fragmented and analytical way of seeing. Géricault challenges traditional notions of representation. The unfinished quality of the sketches invites us to consider how the very act of drawing—the process of mark-making and spatial organization—contributes to meaning.