Nine Sketches of a Young Woman in Fashionable Dress 1813 - 1814

Théodore Géricault created these nine sketches of a young woman in fashionable dress with graphite on paper in the early 19th century. The artist lived in a time of enormous social change following the French Revolution when the rigid class structures of the past were being questioned and renegotiated. These sketches reflect the evolving role of women in society. The dresses, with their high waistlines and flowing fabrics, signal a departure from the more restrictive styles of the past and are symbols of a newfound freedom. What do these images suggest about the lives of women during this era? Are they portrayed as objects of beauty, or are there hints of individuality and agency? These fluid lines and varied poses capture something of the spirit of transformation. They remind us that fashion, art, and society are always intimately intertwined.