Title
Return from Russia, c. 1818. Creator: Théodore Géricault (French, 1791-1824).
Caption
Return from Russia, c. 1818. Géricault was a marvelous lithographer who realized the potential of the medium. Two stones were used to print this image?one for the design printed in black and the other to create the broad areas of tone printed in ocher. This is one of the earliest French lithographs in which a second colour is somewhat integrated into the image instead of just being used for the overall background. Géricault added white watercolour to indicate snow on the lower portion of the scene. Unlike other artists who glorified the Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815), Gericault portrayed a realistic image of the misery and horrors of combat. This scene of two wounded soldiers and exhausted, starving animals is a powerful statement of the pitiful conditions following Napoleon's defeat by the Russians.
Credit line
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Reference
HRM19G01_468
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
License type
Rights managed
Available size
87,4Mb (6,6Mb) / 16,7in x 20,3in / 5018 x 6088 (300dpi)