Jongeman (Theagenes?), leunend tegen een tafel 1600 - 1649

Simon Vouet created this drawing, Jongeman (Theagenes?), leunend tegen een tafel, using black chalk. Vouet returned to Paris from Italy in 1627, where he was instrumental in introducing the Italian Baroque style to France. During this period, artists often turned to classical antiquity for inspiration, both aesthetically and thematically. This drawing, tentatively identified as Theagenes, reflects that interest, though Vouet was more known for his history paintings with allegorical or mythological subjects, which often conveyed messages about power and virtue. Here, the loose sketch and informal pose of the youth depart from traditional, idealized representations. Instead, Vouet seems to capture a moment of introspection, drawing us in to the sitter’s inner world. The identity of the model is not known. Perhaps Vouet was exploring his own feelings of uncertainty. The drawing offers us an intimate glimpse into the artist's process.