Cavalry battle 1812 - 1814

Here we have Théodore Géricault’s pencil sketch of a cavalry battle. Horses rear, soldiers brandish weapons, and a sense of chaotic movement pervades the scene. The horse, since antiquity, has been a symbol of power, virility, and even chaos. Think of the horses of the Apocalypse. Géricault's dynamic rendering of the animals here taps into the powerful connotations of these images. Notice one soldier arching back on his steed, bow raised. Here is a clear echo of the equestrian archer motif, seen throughout the ancient world, from the Steppes to Rome. This gesture is a primal expression of dominance. Yet, here, removed from its heroic origins, it is charged with a raw, almost desperate energy. The sketch reveals the enduring power of symbols, which are continuously re-evaluated and redeployed to reflect ever shifting emotional and historical realities.