Sketches of Oriental Horsemen 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault made these sketches of oriental horsemen using graphite on paper at an unknown date. During the 19th century, the concept of the ‘Orient’ was often romanticized. It was seen as a place of mystery, adventure, and exoticism, particularly in contrast to the West. Géricault, as a French artist, was very much a part of this Orientalist trend. These sketches reflect that fascination, depicting horsemen in what were perceived as traditional ‘Oriental’ garments and poses. This idealized vision, however, often overlooked the complex realities and diverse cultures of the regions it claimed to represent. These sketches offer a glimpse into the cultural imagination of 19th-century Europe. They reveal as much about European fantasies as they do about the actual cultures and people of the ‘Orient,’ a mirror reflecting the longings and biases of a specific historical moment.