Various Subjects Drawn from Life and on Stone: A Wagon with Harnessed Horses

Various Subjects Drawn from Life and on Stone: A Wagon with Harnessed Horses by Théodore Géricault is a significant example of French Romantic printmaking, created in 1821. The classification of the work as a lithograph is crucial, as Géricault was one of the foremost artists in France to champion this relatively new printing medium during the 1820s, appreciating its ability to capture the nuance and immediacy of drawing. The title itself emphasizes the artist’s methodology: subjects derived directly from observable reality and transferred directly onto the lithographic stone for reproduction.

Géricault was renowned for his powerful draftsmanship and dedication to depicting real life, often focusing on subjects considered common or rugged. This composition captures a scene of labor and motion. A heavy wagon, drawn by two powerfully built, harnessed horses, dominates the frame, grounding the artistic study in the physical reality of early 19th-century life. This commitment to direct observation aligns with the Romantic era’s broader interest in the unvarnished dignity of everyday existence, offering a contrast to prevailing Neoclassical ideals.

The artist utilized lithography extensively, recognizing its potential for wide distribution of his detailed studies and allowing a broader public access to high-quality prints. The original print resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural importance within 19th-century French art, this piece, like other impressions from the Various Subjects Drawn from Life and on Stone series, frequently enters the public domain, cementing its status as a critical masterwork of the Print classification.