Sketches of a Musical Boating Party and of a Woman Wearing a Tall Hat 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault made this pen and brown ink sketch of a boating party, and a woman wearing a tall hat, sometime in the early 19th century. This sheet of sketches offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of the French upper class during the Restoration period, after the fall of Napoleon, when there was a return to more traditional social hierarchies. Géricault himself was from a wealthy family and he moved in elevated social circles. This is evident in his choice of subject matter. Look closely, and you may notice how the figures in the boat, and the women with elaborate hats, reflect the fashion and social customs of the time. The artist’s choice to depict these scenes can be seen as a commentary on the privileges enjoyed by a select few. It makes me wonder what he thought about these people and their lives. While seemingly focused on the surface of society, the sketch subtly hints at the underlying social dynamics of early 19th century France.