Created:
Movement:
1818/19
Romanticism
key Notes:
Macabre Realism, Anatomical Study
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Dimensions:
41 × 38 cm (16 1/8 × 14 15/16 in.); Framed: 53.3 × 50.8 × 7.6 cm (21 × 20 × 3 in.)
medium:
Oil on panel
Difficulty:
Expert
New game
story of the work:

"Head of a Guillotined Man" by Jean Louis André Théodore Géricault is a study that reflects the artist's interest in the human condition and the macabre, likely created during his exploration of themes related to death and suffering. This work is part of a series of anatomical studies Géricault undertook, which were informed by his visits to morgues and hospitals, contributing to his broader oeuvre that often depicted intense emotional and physical states.

Description of the work:

"Head of a Guillotined Man" by Jean Louis André Théodore Géricault is an oil on panel painting that presents a stark and visceral depiction of a decapitated head, rendered with meticulous attention to anatomical detail and a somber palette. The work is characterized by its dramatic chiaroscuro, which accentuates the lifeless features and evokes a sense of immediacy and realism, reflecting Géricault's interest in the human condition and mortality.

Artwork Photograph Source:
Art Institute of Chicago

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Head of a Guillotined Man