Retreat from Russia (Retour de Russie)

Théodore Gericault

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two men and part of their bodies. The man on the left is walking, holding onto the bridle of a horse, with one hand resting on its back. The man on the right is seated on the horse. The man on the left has distinct facial features with a prominent nose and is wearing a tall, dark fur hat. The man on the right has a mustache and is wearing a hat that resembles a bonnet. Both men are dressed in military-style attire with heavy coats; the walker has a coat that includes shoulder epaulets, and the rider’s outfit is more sharply defined by his cloak draping over his figure. There is a small dog walking alongside the man on foot. In the background, the image lightly sketches out additional figures that appear to be soldiers marching. The overall composition suggests a historical or military setting, with an artistically rendered sky providing a dramatic backdrop.