Trumpeter of the Hussars c. 1815 - 1820

Théodore Géricault painted ‘Trumpeter of the Hussars’ early in his career, around 1814, as Napoleon’s empire was in decline. The painting depicts a mounted soldier, a trumpeter, his face turned towards us but his body turned toward the battle. It’s hard to miss the romanticism and heroism in this painting. However, Gericault complicates this image of masculinity. While the trumpeter’s uniform is impeccable, his saber is missing. Perhaps this symbolizes the psychological weight of war, challenging the traditional narratives of glory. Gericault lived in a time when social structures were being questioned, and like many artists, he was interested in depicting the experiences of ordinary people. His choice to paint a trumpeter, a non-officer, suggests an interest in the rank and file. In this sense, the painting mirrors the social tensions of its time, between the grand narratives of the empire and the experiences of those who lived through it. The piece invites us to consider the emotional and psychological dimensions of the figure depicted and the era he represents.