The Raft of the Medusa
Théodore Géricault
Description
This dramatic painting is based on a real-life shipwreck that shocked France in 1816. The French naval ship Méduse ran aground, and over 150 people were left adrift on a raft with little food or water. Only 15 survived after nearly two weeks at sea.
The painting shows the survivors at the moment they spot a rescue ship in the distance. Some wave frantically, others lie lifeless, and a few hang on to hope. The sea is wild, the sky is stormy, and the whole scene is filled with tension and desperation.
Analysis
Géricault didn't just paint a historical event, he turned it into a powerful symbol of human suffering, survival, and injustice. The composition is full of diagonals, movement, and contrast. The figures twist and reach, creating a sense of chaos and struggle. There's no hero, no glorified moment, just raw survival. The stormy sea and massive sky show nature's power, while the tiny rescue ship in the distance adds a fragile hint of hope.
Details
- Date:1818-1819
- Medium:Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:491 cm x 716 cm
- Location:Louvre Museum, Paris, France