Study of a Man 

Théodore Géricault made this drawing of a man in France during the early 19th century. Géricault was working during a period of huge social upheaval, in the wake of the French Revolution. Here, Géricault is drawing from the classical tradition in his attention to anatomy and form. He's trying to create a timeless image, yet it’s also very much of its time. Artists in the 19th century were under pressure from the art academy to produce grand historical paintings, but at the same time, many were drawn to the everyday realities of the rapidly changing modern world around them. To understand Géricault better, one might consult exhibition reviews of the period, as well as letters between artists that reveal their conversations about the function of art. By looking at these resources we begin to appreciate the social and institutional contexts that shaped the art of the time.