Two Seated Ladies 

Nicolas Lancret created this drawing, Two Seated Ladies, sometime in the first half of the 18th century. The red chalk medium is crucial here. It's a relatively quick and direct way to capture form, favored by artists for preparatory sketches and studies. Consider the social context: Lancret was working in an era of aristocratic patronage, and drawings like this one would have served as vital steps in the production of paintings destined for wealthy collectors. The chalk lines almost feel like notations, charting the drapery and posture of these women with an economy of means. It's fascinating to consider the labor involved, not just of Lancret himself but also the unseen hands that would have spun the fabric, sewn the garments, and ultimately acquired the finished artwork. Paying attention to the material processes and social context allows us to appreciate the drawing not just as a beautiful image, but as a trace of complex relationships.