Artwork

Wagoner Climbing a Hill

Wagoner Climbing a Hill, by Théodore Géricault, 1823
Wagoner Climbing a Hill, by Théodore Géricault, 1823

Wagoner Climbing a Hill is a print by the Romanticist artist Théodore Géricault. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Wagoner Climbing a Hill is a 1823 print by Théodore Géricault, a French artist associated with the Romantic movement. The work captures a moment of physical struggle in a winter landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a group of people and horses laboriously moving wagons up a steep, snowy hill. The scene conveys human exertion and the challenges posed by nature, aligning with Romantic themes of drama and the power of the natural world.

Technique & Style

Géricault employed quick, expressive lines to convey movement and effort, characteristic of his dynamic approach. The sketchy quality of the work emphasizes the immediacy of the struggle depicted.

Context

Created during a period of dramatic and emotionally intense output by Géricault, this print reflects the broader artistic trends of the Romantic movement, which emphasized emotion, action, and the sublime in nature.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Théodore Géricault

Artist

Théodore Géricault

Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault (French: ; 26 September 1791 – 26 January 1824) was a French painter and lithographer.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.