This painting depicts an episode from the sinking of the French frigate Medusa, sent to colonize Senegal in June 1816. She had 400 people on board. Due to the incompetence of the captain, the ship ran aground and soon took on water. They decided to abandon the ship; 150 people found room on a large raft, with a little water and wine for provisions. Thirteen days passed before they were found. Starvation, drowning, suicide and violent confrontations caused the deaths of most of them: only 10 people survived this nightmarish journey. This painting deals with a 17th century theme: mankind in the grip of the forces of nature, floods, storms and shipwrecks. From today's perspective, this painting may also remind us of the shipwrecks which occur during the illegal immigration of Africans and Middle Easterners to Europe. An ironic parallel, since in 1816 it was the Europeans who left for Africa, and today it is the Africans who come to Europe. What remains, however, is the uncertainty of whether they will arrive safely.