Lithographed Studies of Horses: Pl. 7, Horse from the Caen Plain

Lithographed Studies of Horses: Pl. 7, Horse from the Caen Plain by Théodore Géricault, executed in 1822, is a foundational example of early 19th-century lithography in France. Géricault, an artist profoundly committed to realism and the study of human and animal anatomy, utilized the rapidly evolving medium of the lithograph to document the physical characteristics of working horses with unprecedented precision and immediacy.

This particular plate focuses on a powerful horse typical of the Caen Plain, a region in northern France known for its robust livestock. The animal is rendered in profile, allowing the viewer to appreciate its muscular structure and solid, grounded stance. Unlike historical depictions that idealized the warhorse or charger, Géricault’s approach emphasized natural observation, treating the subject with the seriousness generally reserved for human portraiture.

Lithography, a planographic printing process invented shortly before the turn of the century, allowed Géricault to draw directly onto the printing stone using a greasy crayon. This technique retained the spontaneity and subtle textural variations found in his preliminary drawings, resulting in nuanced tonal shifts and expressive lines that differ significantly from the rigidity of traditional etching or engraving.

The piece is part of a larger, ambitious project known as Études de chevaux, which remains essential for understanding the artist's lifelong dedication to the visual analysis of equine forms. The widespread availability of these prints ensured that Géricault’s detailed observations were distributed widely, influencing successive generations of artists throughout France and Europe. This significant example of early 19th-century French graphic arts is preserved in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.