Standing Man with a Gun c. 18th century

Curator: Looking at Jean-Baptiste Le Prince's "Standing Man with a Gun" from the Harvard Art Museums, I'm immediately struck by the character's almost whimsical appearance, despite the weapon. Editor: Right? He looks like he's about to offer me a questionable deal, not engage in battle. The wispy lines give him this ephemeral quality, like a figment of someone's imagination. Curator: Le Prince was known for his etchings and drawings inspired by his travels, particularly to Russia. This piece, though, feels less ethnographic study and more theatrical. Editor: Perhaps it’s meant to show the human side of soldiers, vulnerability amidst the bravado. Or maybe Le Prince just liked drawing puffy pants and big hats. Curator: His engagement with the exotic likely spoke to the 18th-century French court's fascination with other cultures. Editor: The off-white paper adds a beautiful sense of age, making him both present and distant, a ghost with a gun. Curator: Indeed, an intriguing character frozen in time. Editor: Makes you wonder what story he's a part of, doesn't it?