The Departure of the Newlyweds 1873

Jehan Georges Vibert painted ‘The Departure of the Newlyweds’ using oil on canvas, though the exact date of its creation is unknown. Vibert, living through a period of significant social upheaval in France, frequently used his art to comment on the practices and ironies within the Catholic clergy. Here, we see a festive wedding celebration, but what does it mean for the couple, particularly the bride, to be elevated on horseback? The act literally places her on a pedestal, yet it also underscores the power dynamics at play. Marriage, particularly in the 19th century, often meant a shift in social status and power for women, but also submission to patriarchal structures. What looks like a send-off into marital bliss, might also symbolize a departure into a new set of societal expectations and constraints. Vibert captures a moment ripe with cultural symbolism, inviting us to reflect on the personal and societal implications of such a departure.