Three rumps of horses 

Théodore Géricault created this oil on canvas painting, “Three rumps of horses” sometime in the early 19th century. At first glance, the composition is strikingly unconventional. Géricault presents us with the rear ends of three horses, cropped in such a way that their individual forms merge into an almost abstract arrangement of shapes and textures. The subdued palette, dominated by earthy browns and grays, adds to the work's introspective mood. But beyond the surface, Géricault's focus on the horse's form reflects a deeper engagement with Romantic ideals. The horse, a symbol of power, freedom, and the sublime, becomes a vehicle for exploring the limits of representation. By fragmenting the animal and focusing on its materiality, Géricault challenges traditional notions of beauty and invites us to contemplate the relationship between form and meaning. Ultimately, the painting's power lies in its ability to destabilize established categories and to prompt ongoing interpretation.