The Ludovisi Water Carrier 1752 - 1756

Curator: Here we have Augustin Pajou's drawing, "The Ludovisi Water Carrier," made sometime between 1752 and 1756. It is a compelling example of neoclassical portraiture. Curator: Yes, and my first impression is one of elegant austerity. The limited use of line, the stark monochrome—it all creates this immediate sense of classical restraint and form. Curator: Restraint born from very specific social conditions, though. Neoclassicism in France was, in part, a reaction against the opulence of the aristocracy. The desire was for moral clarity. This image shows us the intellectual work being done by artists to reform the very means of production in line with enlightenment values. Curator: I see your point, the linearity certainly embodies clarity. The drape of her clothing; one almost feels the cool smoothness of the imagined fabric and the weighty roundness of that water vessel resting on her shoulder. It’s all meticulously balanced between naturalism and idealized form. Curator: And note, too, the role of drawing in the period. These drawings weren't necessarily intended as ends in themselves. Rather, we must consider drawing in the broader process that includes sculpture, printing, distribution of prints... How images were used and circulated among different kinds of makers is what I find exciting here. Curator: Agreed. But here the formal qualities suggest more. Consider the pose, recalling classical sculpture while simultaneously achieving a sense of dynamic movement, her contrapposto stance is a masterclass. Curator: These all'antica poses of course became wildly popular as they could serve any patron wishing to position himself or herself in line with a lineage of power—through carefully tailored consumption habits. It really foregrounds the commercial functions that art played. Curator: The piece certainly opens up lines of inquiry beyond mere surface admiration, and perhaps forces us to reconsider this artist’s strategic choices in rendering of the human form. Curator: Indeed. For me, thinking about the networks of labor and production gives this otherwise simple sketch so much nuance and impact. Curator: Absolutely, and the very process of visually disentangling the artwork remains thoroughly engaging. Thank you!