Studies of Drapery and Study of a Landscape c. 19th century

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes made this drawing, Studies of Drapery and Study of a Landscape, in France sometime in the 19th century. He was known for his murals, and this sketch gives us a glimpse into his artistic process. Let's consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. Puvis de Chavannes was committed to public art and believed in its power to uplift and ennoble the masses. The artistic institutions of his time, such as the École des Beaux-Arts, emphasized academic training and classical ideals. This informed Puvis de Chavannes’s aesthetic. Here, the studies of drapery reflect a concern with the formal elements of art. There's a kind of timelessness to his figures, which can be understood as a commentary on the fleeting nature of modern life. To understand Puvis de Chavannes fully, we need to explore archives, letters, and critical reviews. We might also consider the artistic manifestos and debates of the time to understand his place in the cultural landscape.