Head of a Guillotined Man 1818 - 1819

Théodore Géricault painted this unflinching image of a severed head in the early 19th century. He worked during a period of significant social and political upheaval in France, marked by the aftermath of the French Revolution and the subsequent Reign of Terror. During this period, capital punishment was a visible and public spectacle. Géricault’s choice of subject matter reflects his fascination with the human condition, particularly in moments of extreme duress. As well as this, the painting reveals a deep engagement with themes of mortality and justice. There is an undeniable sense of realism, but it also explores the psychological dimensions of death. Géricault prompts us to confront uncomfortable truths about the human body, and the social and political forces that govern life and death. How does the image make you feel about the spectacle of state-sanctioned violence?