Figures Looking at Outdoor Spectacle 1781 - 1823

Paul Gregoire’s drawing captures a scene from 1785 of figures observing an outdoor spectacle. Note the recurring motif of raised arms and outstretched hands throughout the composition, echoing human desire for upward mobility and connection. Consider the figure holding a child aloft on their shoulders. This gesture transcends time, recalling ancient depictions of the god Atlas bearing the world or the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The figures raising their arms in this drawing are performing an action of joy and awe, a desire to reach upwards, towards the heavens. The child’s outstretched arms, mirrored by other figures in the crowd, suggest a primal yearning for ascension, reflecting humanity’s collective memory. This pursuit of elevation is not linear; instead, it manifests cyclically throughout art history, resurfacing in different forms and contexts, ever evolving in its symbolic weight.