Schetsblad met een boer, een Bask, een veteraan en een groep soldaten 1828 - 1829

Auguste Raffet created this sketch sheet featuring a farmer, a Basque, a veteran, and a group of soldiers using pen in brown and brush in gray. This work gives us a glimpse into 19th-century French society. Raffet, who lived through the Napoleonic era and the subsequent Bourbon Restoration, often depicted military and everyday life, reflecting the changing social fabric of France. The figures he captures here speak to diverse aspects of French identity, from rural peasantry to military service. Note how Raffet distinguishes each figure through costume and posture, providing subtle commentary on their social standing and lived experiences. Consider the veteran, perhaps a relic of past glories, or the Basque figure, representing regional identities within the French state. How do these images reflect the complex and evolving concept of French identity during this period? These sketches are a poignant reminder of the human stories embedded within broader historical narratives.