A Roman Reclining on a Couch (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Editor: Here we have Jacques-Louis David's "A Roman Reclining on a Couch," a small sketch from, well, we're not quite sure when. It's interesting how he's used such simple materials to create such a clear image of Roman leisure. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Observe the starkness. The grey wash and the figure's posture suggest a focus on the means of representing Roman ideals. David, even in this sketch, uses the material of drawing itself to engage with ideas of labor and consumption, doesn't he? Consider the social context. Editor: That's a great point. The simplicity really draws attention to the physical act of creation, and the Roman subject. Thanks for this perspective. Curator: Indeed, thinking about the materiality shifts our understanding of classicism as less about ideals and more about the conditions under which those ideals were made and circulated.