Lion Devouring a Horse 1821

Editor: This is Théodore Géricault's "Lion Devouring a Horse," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small print, but the scene is so intense. What societal anxieties do you think Géricault might be exploring here? Curator: It's a brutal image, isn't it? Consider the Romantic era's fascination with the sublime, and the way that intersects with power dynamics. Who benefits from this display of dominance? Whose suffering is rendered invisible? Editor: So, you're saying it's not just about nature, but about the social structures that allow some to prey on others? Curator: Precisely. Think about the class structure, the ways marginalized communities are exploited. Does this image reflect those power imbalances? Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to think about. Seeing the artwork as a reflection of social hierarchies adds a whole new layer. Curator: Indeed. Art often acts as a mirror, reflecting and refracting the societal norms and injustices of its time.