Art History 101: Tableau Vivant Inspired by Gericault's Nude Warrior

This assignment presents a creative project where a student creates a tableau vivant inspired by Théodore Gericault's painting "Nude Warrior with a Spear." The student reinterprets the artwork by changing the gender of the figure, challenging traditional patriarchal norms. The project includes an analysis of the painting's style, meaning, and subject matter, highlighting its romanticism and historical significance. The student discusses the challenges faced, such as altering the painting's theme and physical attributes, and the new insights gained, particularly regarding the patriarchal aspects of the artwork. The conclusion emphasizes the painting's historical and romantic value while also acknowledging its subtle commentary on gender relations, as revealed through the student's reinterpretation.

Running head: TABLEAU VIVANT
TABLEAU VIVANT: “NUDE WARRIOR WITH A SPEAR” BY THEODORE
GERICAULT
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
Théodore Gericault at the age of 19 became the student of Pierre-Narcisse Guérin and it
was under his tutelage that Gericault developed a taste for painting the human form1. More
importantly, it was during this tutelage that Gericault painted a rough sketch of a naked man
which in the latter years was finally completed by him as his famous oil painting “Nude Warrior
with a Spear” (1816)2. The naked man looking at the barren horizon is a representation of the
defeat that France faced during the Napoleonic Wars. More importantly, this particular painting
is deeply rooted within the traditions of patriarchy and thus it is seen that the painting represents
the male form with all its virility and also with a spear in hand so as to indicate the fighting
abilities of the man (Refer to Appendix). Thus, in this tableau vivant project I intend to change
the gender of the person portrayed in the painting so as to make the painting a protest against the
patriarchal system of the society.
Style, Meaning and Subject Matter
Gericault had used the style of romanticism for the creation of the painting under
discussion here. This becomes apparent from the fact that the body of the nude male figure
within the painting had been presented through the usage of different geometric shapes
especially triangles for highlighting the virility as well as the beauty of the figure and this had
been pitted against the barrenness of the landscape at which the figure is staring at3. More
importantly, the despair with which the figure is looking at the barren landscape with his hands
clutching the spear is clearly indicative of the defeat which the man had endured and his desire to
1 Wolf, Norbert, and Ingo F. Walther. Romanticism. Taschen, 2018.
2 Nga.gov. "Nude Warrior With A Spear". 2020. Nga.Gov. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-
page.46504.html.
3 Snell, Robert. Portraits of the Insane: Theodore Gericault and the Subject of Psychotherapy. Routledge, 2018.

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seek revenge for the same. This as a matter of fact is in synchronicity with the condition of the
nation of France after enduring defeat in the Napoleonic Wars4. In the light of these aspects, it
can be said that the painting under discussion here rather than being a merely romantic
representation of a man longing to go out to the battlefield and take revenge had actual historical
significance and it tries to adequately highlight the emotions as well as the feelings of the people
of France after they endured defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
Changes made by me
The barren landscape, the setting of the painting and the other finer details which add to
the beauty as well as the pleasure of the painting had been retained by them. However, the most
important thing that I have changed within the painting is the gender of the individual holding
the spear within the painting. For instance, in the original painting the figure holding the spear is
a naked man whereas in my project the individual holding the spear would be a naked woman.
This had been done by me so as to challenge the traditional patriarchal norms wherein the idea
that only men are capable as well as worthy of fighting in the battlefields had been predominant.
Thus, within the project rather than a man, a nude women sitting in the same position would be
holding the spear and looking into the barren landscape. This as a matter of fact would also in
synchronicity with the contemporary culture wherein it is seen that the women had been able to
attain a substantial amount of empowerment and are working in conjunction with men in all
professions.
4 Parker, Shalon. Painting the Prehistoric Body in Late Nineteenth-century France. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.

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Challenges faced and new insights gained
The most important challenge which I encountered can be attributed to the aspect of
changing the theme of the painting under discussion here from the one that it presently represents
to make it challenge the patriarchal norms of society. More importantly, changing the physical
attributes of the figure in the painting was another important challenge which I encountered.
However, at the same time I would say that the changes which I made to the original painting
helped to gain new insights about the same. For instance, the past scholars have highlighted the
romantic as well as the historical aspects of the painting under discussion here however I was
being able to understand the patriarchal aspects of the same. Furthermore, I believe that I could
have further improved the quality of the work by making small changes within the landscape as
well.
Conclusion
Théodore Gericault’s painting “Nude Warrior with a Spear” is highly valued for the
romantic and the historical connotations of the same. However, over the years very few scholars
have noticed the patriarchal aspects of the painting and also the subtle manner in which it
highlighted the gender relations of the concerned age. These aspects of the painting “Nude
Warrior with a Spear” becomes apparent from the above analysis of the same.

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References
Nga.gov. "Nude Warrior With A Spear". 2020. Nga.Gov. https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-
object-page.46504.html.
Parker, Shalon. Painting the Prehistoric Body in Late Nineteenth-century France. Rowman &
Littlefield, 2018.
Snell, Robert. Portraits of the Insane: Theodore Gericault and the Subject of Psychotherapy.
Routledge, 2018.
Wolf, Norbert, and Ingo F. Walther. Romanticism. Taschen, 2018.

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Appendix
“Nude Warrior with a Spear” by Théodore Gericault