Seated Stag 1812 - 1814

Théodore Géricault, working in the early 19th century, sketched this seated stag. His lifetime coincided with the turbulent years following the French Revolution, and his works often reflected the anxieties and dramas of his time. Here, we see a stag, an animal often associated with nobility and the hunt, rendered with a relaxed and almost melancholic posture. What does it mean to see this creature at rest, rather than in the heat of a chase? Géricault often used animal subjects to explore themes of power, instinct, and vulnerability. In a society grappling with shifting social hierarchies, animals served as symbols through which artists could question established norms and explore the human condition. While seemingly a simple sketch, this artwork touches upon complex themes of social change and identity. It invites us to consider the relationship between humans and the natural world, and how both are shaped by the forces of history.