Read this, it will give a little buff to your culture
In drawing up of the portrait, Gericault conducted many studies on corpses and body parts, including Severed Heads. The creepy realism in this portrait marks a departure from earlier ideas and a renewed interest in more dramatic themes. The practicality of Géricault's research of the severed heads is almost intolerable. The painter painted a series of similar pictures, sometimes with arms and legs amputated. There is probably a connection with his work of art The Raft of Medusa (Louvre), which displays the dying victims of wreckage. These images can be considered as approaches to death, with the eventual goal of making it as convincing as possible.
Description and analysis of artworks: Guillotine heads by Gericault's show a cruel description of decay and death. On the left side is the female head which has closed eyes and bright white skin, while on the right is the male head with open mouth and open eyes which look at the viewer freely. Serrated, rough spots on the neck illustrate the cruel and torturous death these characters have agonized at the guillotine. In this portrait, Gericault illustrates his brilliant mastery of the light-dark technique, which is reflected in the contrasts of darkness and light all over the composition. Loose lines for the visualization of face and tissue contribute to the dramatic effect of the work.
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