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| “Le Radeau de la Méduse” by Théodore Géricault (1818-1819) |
This painting, known as “The Raft of Medusa” in English, depicts people boarding a raft after the wrecking of the French ship Méduse off the coast of Mauritania in 1816. The event indirectly resulted in over one hundred deaths, and was widely used to criticize King Louis XVIII for appointing an incompetent captain, although he did not actually have any involvement in it. Géricault, a Frenchman, was a pioneer of the Romantic movement and is best known for this painting, which is larger than actual size.
Analyzing the image: What emotion and tone does this painting invoke? How does the scenery in the background reinforce this? Based on the subject matter and style, what political statements could Géricault be making?
Connections: How might the public at that time have reacted to this, and why? Which elements of romanticism can be identified in the work, in terms of both the painting style and the content?