"The Raft of the Medusa"

"The Raft of the Medusa" is a famous 1818-1819 painting by Théodore Géricault that depicts a tragic shipwreck. The painting shows the aftermath of a real maritime disaster where the French ship Medusa ran aground off Africa in 1816. The survivors, stranded on a makeshift raft, faced starvation, dehydration, and madness. Géricault’s artwork captures their desperation, chaos, and the human struggle for survival, highlighting themes of human endurance and the effects of disaster. It is celebrated for its dramatic realism, emotional intensity, and mastery of composition, making it a powerful symbol of tragedy and resilience.