Theodore Gericault Analysis

The image on the left was painted by the talented, Theodore Gericault. The painting is a snap shot of the tragic shipwreck on July 2, 1816. Theodore finally completed this painting when he was 27. This painting was a prime example for the French Romanticism Era. The ship, Medusa, got off track. The survivors of the raft dealt with life threatening health issues and cannibalism at one point for around 14 days. The scene shows how the sailors are living but slowly withering away from fate. One of Theodore’s arrangements is the sailors piled on each other, from death on the bottom to life at the top. The life death arrangement shows how the dead bodies were closer to the waves and some drifting away. Other sailors who wanted to survive stood on

The dark colors at the front describe how their world is stopping and they are just drifting farther from help. Most waters at sea would be light blue and vibrant but Theodore chose dark blues and greens for the horrific mood of the scene. The straight lines in the back show the calm waters closer to shore. The rigidity sharp lines trace out waves in the front showing terror and dangerous ahead. A father holds his fallen son because of hope. Hope like the sailors in the back pointing for help. The colors of the sailors skin point out which Theodore wanted you to see first and which ones he wanted you to see but over look. The colors of the corpses were researched so they would be matching with real life dead bodies. Beside the handkerchief flying for help, a man is holding his son. Theodore outlined the body so perfectly so a viewer would get the full effect of the dead corpse hanging off the raft. The son-father part is a meaning of hope and loneliness. The father will be left alone to die similar to the handkerchief guy still holding on for hope to be rescued. Theodore drew the dead son’s body so perfectly he looks

This painting itself raised eyebrows and caused controversy. Manet broke the rules of realism in painting. This painting is an example of the difference in sexuality and sensuality. France had a flow of classiness and maturity. The two men on the right look like working men there for business, while you have a naked woman staring you down. Let’s not forget the clothed woman crouching in the creek. In my opinion, Manet is showing the world nothing is wrong with letting loose and having fun but still keeping it classy. The naked female model has taken off her clothes but her hair is still nicely up. Manet broke a rule also by the hair color and bush match to where it breaks the scale of painting. The first object you see is the naked girl on the grass due to her brightness of a skin tone, where the men look occupied and in dark colored attire. He drew her eyes so round and realistic they cut daggers through a seekers heart. The naked model caused issues because it is a painting of his real life model Victoria. The two guys are his brother and brother in law, and some did not want those family members associated with