The Notary: A Study for "The Marriage Contract" 1761

Curator: This drawing, rendered in chalk and charcoal on paper, is titled "The Notary: A Study for 'The Marriage Contract'." It’s by Jean-Baptiste Greuze and dates to 1761. It now resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Ah, the notary, looking terribly pleased with himself! He’s all sly smiles and crossed legs. Makes you wonder what juicy details he's privy to. Curator: As a study, this provides valuable insight into Greuze’s working methods. We can examine how he built up form and defined light through the materiality of chalk and charcoal, preparations for the final oil painting of the marriage contract. Note the deliberate crafting of a particular mood. Editor: Oh, definitely. It's that slight smirk, isn’t it? Like he’s got a secret, or is about to make a fortune. I mean, you can almost hear the scratching of his quill pen as he finalizes some ridiculously advantageous agreement for someone. It's a great performance, right? I like the textural layering too, of his robes, and that jaunty hat. Curator: Right. The theatricality points towards the influence of Rococo. The paper serves almost like a stage upon which Greuze rehearses character, using costume to signify social roles. Editor: Which always involved money, didn’t it? These arrangements… a young woman's future secured, perhaps, but at what cost? This notary is its linchpin, its facilitator. I’m making assumptions here, of course. But look at that little self-satisfied grin again. What does he know that we don’t? Curator: What strikes me is the efficiency and refinement of his drawing skill, especially within the specific demands of 18th century French society, particularly with marriage. Editor: Exactly! To see those hands at work. They bring the story into sharp focus! So much history trapped in this little vignette.