Who painted Le Giaour (The Infidel)?

Le Giaour (The Infidel) was painted by Théodore Géricault in 1823.

Where can I see Le Giaour (The Infidel)?

Le Giaour (The Infidel) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Giaour (The Infidel)?

Le Giaour (The Infidel) is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Le Giaour (The Infidel)?

Museum-quality prints of Le Giaour (The Infidel) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Le Giaour (The Infidel)

Théodore Géricault , 1823

Le Giaour (The Infidel) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Théodore Géricault. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left below image: Géricault et Eug. Lami. 1823; across upper center: LE GIAOUR,; lower right below image: Y. Lith. de Villain; across lower center: ....Cet ennemi est là qui le contemple....son front est aussi sombre que celui qui est couvert / des embres du trépas.......; lower right below image: Chez Gihaut fréres éditeurs; by later hand, lower right in graphite: 50+ / 2 état; by later hand, lower left in graphite: RPN 4172; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 971 77

About this work

Overview

Théodore Géricault’s 1823 lithograph Le Giaour (The Infidel) presents a solitary rider turning his head to look backward. Executed on wove paper, the image captures a lone figure in period costume, mounted on a horse, set against an ambiguous landscape. The work exemplifies Géricault’s interest in dramatic, narrative subjects during the early Romantic period.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is identified as a "giaour," a term used for a non‑believer or outsider to the dominant faith. By portraying this infidel on horseback, Géricault taps into contemporary fascination with exotic, literary characters who embody conflict between cultures and belief systems, evoking a sense of tension and alienation.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, the print relies on a stone‑based process that allows Géricault to render bold outlines and nuanced shading. The wove paper surface contributes a smooth, uniform ground, enhancing the contrast between the rider’s dark silhouette and the lighter background, while preserving the emotive intensity characteristic of Romantic visual language.

Context

Produced at a time when Géricault was exploring subjects drawn from poetry, folklore, and the exotic, the lithograph reflects the early 19th‑century European preoccupation with the ‘Other.’ Its focus on a religious outsider aligns with Romantic themes of individualism, emotional excess, and the sublime qualities of distant cultures.