Cheval Anglais 1822

Théodore Géricault created this lithograph, "Cheval Anglais," the French term for English horse, around 1823. Gericault had a well-known fascination with horses and the military during a period of French history marked by political upheaval. The artwork serves as a window into early 19th-century European society, where equestrian culture was intertwined with class and national identity. Horses were not merely beasts of burden but symbols of wealth, status, and military might. The ‘English horse,’ specifically, suggests a certain level of admiration, perhaps even envy, from the French artist towards British equestrian traditions. In the lithograph, we see a man riding with purpose, suggesting a narrative of control and authority. It prompts us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being left out. Whose freedom and status is assured through the control of such a magnificent animal? The print offers a glimpse into a world where power, prestige, and national identity were visibly displayed through the ownership and mastery of these animals.