Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune 1898

Louis Anquetin made this drawing, titled "Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune," on a sheet using graphite. Anquetin was a French artist, and this work is a window into the cultural milieu of late 19th-century France, a time of great social and artistic change. The mythological subject matter, referencing classical antiquity, was typical of academic art, but Anquetin gives it a modern spin by using a more expressive drawing style. He was associated with the avant-garde, but, like many artists, he was interested in the challenge of working within established genres and institutions. To understand Anquetin's engagement with tradition and modernity, scholars often look at exhibition reviews, artists' letters, and the writings of critics and theorists. These sources provide a rich context for interpreting the image, helping us to understand the complex social and institutional forces that shaped its production and reception.