Two standing horses, Man riding a rearing horse 1812 - 1814

This pencil sketch of horses was made by Théodore Géricault in the early 19th century. Géricault was a Romantic painter, deeply affected by the political turmoil following the French Revolution. Here, we see a vision of masculine power through the motif of the horse. Equestrian portraits have long been associated with authority and nobility. But Géricault lived in a time when traditional hierarchies were being questioned. The rearing horse, usually a symbol of triumph, is here rendered with a nervous energy, a sketch rather than a finished painting, suggesting the instability of power. Géricault was also known for his sensitive depictions of marginalized people, bringing attention to those often ignored by society. "I paint what I see," he said, and in his art, we see a reflection of a changing world, where old certainties are breaking down, and new voices are beginning to be heard. It leaves us pondering on the shifting grounds of power.